The only way to achieve an election, which outcome will be acceptable to all in Kogi State is to be transparent and all stakeholders treated equally, the International Press Centre (IPC) has said, cautioning journalists not to show any bias in their reportage before, during and after the election.

Speaking at a two-day workshop for local journalists, who will cover the November 11 election, Executive Director of IPC, Lanre Arogundade, asked reporters and media executives not to display any bias in favour of any political party or candidate.

During the election, he cautioned journalists against negotiating with any politician to suppress information.

Arogundade said the Kogi election would be made credible through unbiased and professional reports from the media, adding that “the place of the media in credible elections remains very important.”

While pointing out that the election requires professionalism and objectivity from media practitioners, Arogundade cautioned against brown envelope journalism.

He urged stakeholders in the election, as part of safety consciousness, to show respect to law enforcement and security agents to stay safe on election day.

The IPC boss urged practitioners to avoid mobs, if the situation gets rough or violent; to retreat and report from a reasonable distance in times of danger.

While appealing to journalists to be conscious of life after reporting on the election, he advised them to move in groups or in clusters as part of a safety measure.

The two-day training and media engagement, with support from European Union Support to Democratic Governance in Nigeria (EU-SDGN) Phase II, Component 4; support to Nigeria – Phase 2 Project, drew 25 participants from the print, broadcast and online media.