2019: INEC expresses worry over hate speeches

IN a move to guard against hate speeches and inspire issues based campaign, the Independent National Electoral Commission, (INEC) is set to partner with relevant agencies as well as professional bodies, ahead of 2019 general elections.

This formed part of the resolutions reached on Wednesday at the end of a two-day workshop on the Review of INEC Communication Policy which held in Kaduna state.

In a communiqué signed by an INEC National Commissioner and Chairman, Information and Voter Education Committee, Prince Solomon Soyebi, the Commission revealed its plan ‘’to partner with other regulatory agencies and professional bodies to ensure compliance with agreed code of conduct and statutes, especially with regards to incidences of incitement and hate speech”.

The participants “emphasized that the delivery of messages should take into account the socio-cultural, religious and linguistic diversity, as well as the population mix and peculiarities of our political environment and electoral system”.

The Communique read in part: ‘’Taking into cognizance all extant statutes and provisions, the revised policy should develop, manage and sustain innovative and proactive communication capacity to promote internal cohesion, public trust common vision and values.

“Arising from evolving operational environment and current internal and external developments, the revised policy should be based on effective, efficient, precise, honest and prompt dissemination and flow of information on the decisions, policies, activities, constraints and challenges of the Commission”.

The workshop which was presided over by the INEC Chairman, Prof Mahmood Yakubu was attended by all National Commissioners, Resident Electoral Commissioners, Directors, Administrative Secretaries, Heads of Voter Education and Publicity Department from all the states and other directing staff of the commission as well as communication experts from both the public and organized private sectors.