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As part of efforts to strengthen journalists’ safety and press freedom during the Osun State Governorship Election, the International Press Centre (IPC) has unveiled *WAFLO*, a WhatsApp-enabled, AI-assisted Live Election Incident Reporting System.
The system is designed to facilitate real-time reporting, documentation and monitoring of incidents affecting journalists on election duty.
The platform will be deployed during the August 15 governorship election as a pilot initiative. It marks a significant technological innovation in election safety monitoring.
WAFLO enables journalists to instantly report threats, assaults, intimidation, harassment and other press freedom violations through a secure WhatsApp interface, allowing for timely verification, documentation and response.
Speaking at the unveiling, IPC Executive Director, *Mr. Lanre Arogundade*, said the pilot deployment represents an important step towards building a more responsive system for protecting journalists covering elections in Nigeria.
> “The deployment of WAFLO during the Osun governorship election is a pilot initiative aimed at strengthening the prompt identification, documentation and response to incidents affecting journalists and other media professionals on election duty. Our objective is to ensure that no attack or infringement against journalists goes unnoticed or unreported.”
He explained that the platform transforms incident reporting into actionable information by enabling stakeholders to respond swiftly to emerging threats while generating evidence that can support accountability and improved protection mechanisms.
According to him, WAFLO will subsequently be enhanced and scaled up for nationwide deployment during the *2027 General Elections*, building on lessons from the Osun pilot.
The initiative forms part of *Component 4: Support to Media* of the European Union Support to Democratic Governance in Nigeria – Phase Two (*EU-SDGN II*) programme, implemented by the International Press Centre (IPC) and the Centre for Media and Society (CEMESO).
It complements ongoing efforts under the programme to strengthen media professionalism, election reporting, fact-checking and journalists’ safety through collaboration with key stakeholders, including the Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ).
Arogundade noted that the conditions under which journalists operate during elections remain a critical indicator of democratic accountability and respect for fundamental freedoms.
> “The ability of journalists to report freely and safely is fundamental to credible elections. WAFLO provides a practical mechanism for real-time reporting and coordinated response that reinforces ongoing efforts to protect journalists and strengthen democratic processes.”
*Accessing the Platform*
Journalists covering the election can access the reporting platform through the *SafeMedia WhatsApp service* by:
– Visiting https://dub.sh/safemedia
– Or sending the word “SAFEMEDIA” via WhatsApp to *0805 877 8053*
After sending the keyword, users should wait a few seconds for the automated prompts before submitting their reports.
The WAFLO platform complements the journalists’ safety support services already available through the EU-SDGN II Election Observation Hub, including the dedicated safety desk managed by:
– *Melody Akinjiyan*, Press Freedom Officer – +234 707 854 3482
– *Bukola Obaujo*, Safety Monitoring Officer – +234 814 633 3108
IPC also urged journalists to adhere to professional safety protocols by ensuring they are properly accredited and carry valid identification cards, press tags and other relevant credentials throughout the election.
The organisation further called on security agencies, political actors, election officials and other stakeholders to respect journalists’ constitutional rights to carry out their professional responsibilities without intimidation, harassment or undue interference.
IPC expressed appreciation to the leadership of the Osun State Council of the Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ) for supporting the technology-driven initiative aimed at improving the documentation and response to attacks on journalists during elections.
*How to Report an Incident*
Journalists can access the SafeMedia reporting platform by:
– Visiting https://dub.sh/safemedia, or
– Sending “SAFEMEDIA” via WhatsApp to 0805 877 8053.
After sending the keyword, users should wait a few seconds for the next automated prompt before submitting their incident report.
