Benin City, June 19, 2024 – In a proactive move to enhance citizen participation and electoral transparency in the upcoming Edo state gubernatorial elections, the Edo Civil Society Situation Room conducted an advocacy visit to the General Manager (GM) of the Edo Broadcasting Service (EBS) on June 19, 2024.
The purpose of the visit was twofold: to inform the EBS GM about the activities and initiatives of the Edo Civil Society Situation Room, and to seek collaborative opportunities to further enlighten citizens on their voting rights and electoral processes.
The meeting, held at the EBS headquarters in Aduwawa, Benin City, was attended by representatives from the Edo Civil Society Situation Room. During the engagement, the GM of EBS expressed appreciation for the visit and provided assurances of the media house’s willingness to collaborate with the Situation Room.
“We are pleased to welcome the Edo Civil Society Situation Room team and to pledge our support for their efforts to empower citizens ahead of the upcoming gubernatorial elections,” stated the EBS GM. “As a state-owned media organization, we recognize the importance of partnering with civil society to enhance voter education and participation.”
However, the GM also acknowledged the financial challenges faced by media organizations in the current economic climate. “The cost of running a media house is no longer cheap,” the GM noted. “As such, we will need to provide the Situation Room’s access to our platforms at a subsidized rate.”
Addressing this concern, the GM assured the Situation Room team that the subsidized rate would still be “considerable” and not prohibitively expensive. This balanced approach sought to strike a compromise between supporting the civil society group’s outreach activities and ensuring the sustainability of EBS’s own operations.
The meeting concluded on a positive note, with a group photograph capturing the collaborative spirit between the Edo Civil Society Situation Room and the Edo Broadcasting Service. This visual representation underscored the shared commitment to enhancing citizen participation and electoral transparency in the upcoming gubernatorial polls.
“This engagement with the Edo Broadcasting Service is a significant step forward in our efforts to empower citizens and promote the integrity of the electoral process,” said the Situation Room’s spokesperson. “We are grateful for EBS’s willingness to partner with us and look forward to working together to ensure a well-informed and engaged electorate.”
The Edo Civil Society Situation Room’s advocacy visit to EBS highlights the importance of fostering constructive dialogues between civil society organizations and state media institutions. By leveraging the reach and resources of the state broadcaster, the Situation Room aims to amplify its voter education initiatives and contribute to a more inclusive and transparent electoral environment in Edo state.