As Anambra State prepares for its governorship election on Saturday, November 8, the International Press Centre (IPC) and the Centre for Media and Society (CEMESO) have restated their commitment to promoting transparency, media safety, and credible information dissemination through the Anambra Election Observation Hub.
The two media development organisations, supported by the European Union under the EU Support to Democratic Governance in Nigeria (EU–SDGN) Programme Phase II, said the hub would monitor the election in real time to safeguard journalists, verify electoral information, and strengthen public confidence in the electoral process.
With over 2.8 million registered voters expected to cast their ballots across 5,718 polling units in 21 local government areas, the organisations have used several broadcast platforms including three radio programmes and one television show to urge the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) and security agencies to prioritise the safety and operational freedom of journalists during the exercise.
According to them, protecting journalists’ rights to access information and report without intimidation is central to ensuring credible coverage and sustaining public trust in the process. They also called for increased voter education to promote understanding of voting procedures on election day.
The Anambra Election Observation Hub, they explained, will serve as a coordination and information centre linking the media, civil society, security agencies, and INEC. It will feature press briefings, field monitoring, live assessments, and electoral fact-checking across traditional and digital platforms.
A rapid response mechanism has also been established to swiftly identify and address incidents such as voter suppression, disinformation, and threats to journalists. Observers stationed across all 21 LGAs will provide live updates to guide evidence-based interventions and public statements.
The initiative follows findings from pre-election risk analyses conducted between June 2024 and October 2025, which highlighted several attacks on journalists in Anambra. Data showed that 18 journalists were detained by vigilante groups in Nnewi during the Anambra South senatorial by-election on August 16, 2025, while other cases of assault and targeted disinformation were recorded in Aguata, Ihiala, Nnewi South, and Orumba South.
“These developments underline the urgent need to guarantee journalists’ safety so they can report freely and professionally,” the statement noted, adding that such measures are vital to preserving press freedom and ensuring credible election coverage.
The Executive Director of IPC, Mr. Lanre Arogundade, said the Anambra election faces not only traditional security risks but also digital threats, including coordinated misinformation targeting journalists.
“Through the IPC Safety and Protection of Journalists (SPJ) and the Election Observation Hub, we are deploying real-time risk analytics to map threat hotspots, verify information, and protect both reporters and the integrity of the information ecosystem,” Arogundade stated.
He also released the hub’s emergency hotlines — 0813 277 6441 and 0706 945 1562 — for field reporters in distress.
Also speaking, Dr. Akin Akingbulu, Executive Director of CEMESO, said the organisation’s data-driven observation approach would “track misinformation networks, amplify verified reporting, and ensure voters have access to trustworthy information in real time,” using platforms such as Halt Fake and the Nigerian Democratic Report.
Both organisations have also produced key resource materials for journalists covering elections, including:
Broadcast Media Coverage of Elections-Related Politics in Nigeria
Guidelines on Fact-Checking Electoral Misinformation and Disinformation
Journalists’ Safety and Professional Advisory
2025 Media Safety and Freedom Status Assessment
Media Guidelines for Disability-Inclusive Coverage of Elections in Nigeria
They further encouraged journalists to consult other guides such as the Nigeria Media Code of Election Coverage, Resource Manual for Reporting Elections and Democratic Accountability, and the FOI Manual on Campaign Finance Reporting to strengthen their professionalism and ensure conflict-sensitive, inclusive coverage.
The Anambra Election Observation Hub is a coalition of EU-SDGN II implementing partners, including Yiaga Africa, The Kukah Centre, ElectHER, Nigerian Women Trust Fund, TAF Africa, IPC, and CEMESO.
The EU-SDGN II Programme supports democratic institutions such as INEC, the National Assembly, the Judiciary, political parties, civil society, and the media, reflecting the European Union’s commitment to strengthening Nigeria’s democracy through transparency, accountability, and inclusive governance.