The International Press Centre, IPC, has announced the deployment of a WhatsApp-enabled artificial intelligence incident reporting system to monitor and document attacks against journalists during the Osun State governorship election.
The system, known as WAFLO, will be deployed as a pilot scheme during the election scheduled for Saturday, August 15, 2026.
IPC Executive Director, Lanre Arogundade, disclosed the development during a press conference in Osogbo on Friday.
According to Arogundade, WAFLO is designed to facilitate the real-time reporting, verification, documentation and monitoring of incidents affecting journalists and press freedom during the election.
The system will cover incidents including assaults, threats, harassment and other infringements on the rights of journalists carrying out their professional duties.
“The fundamental goal of WAFLO is to ensure that incidents affecting journalists do not go unnoticed or unreported,” Arogundade said.
He explained that the platform would allow journalists to report safety concerns as they occur, giving relevant stakeholders information that could help them respond more quickly to threats, assaults and other incidents.
Arogundade said the pilot deployment in Osun would provide the basis for an expanded version of the system ahead of the 2027 general elections.
He explained that the initiative forms part of Component 4: Support to Media under the European Union Support to Democratic Governance in Nigeria Phase Two, EU-SDGNII, programme.
The programme is being implemented by the IPC and the Centre for Media and Society, CEMESO, in collaboration with key stakeholders, including the Nigeria Union of Journalists, NUJ.
According to the IPC, the collaboration is aimed at developing a broader framework for protecting journalists during elections.
“WAFLO therefore hopes to complement and reinforce existing EU-SDGNII Component 4 initiatives including the hub’s safety of journalists desk,” Arogundade said.
The IPC urged journalists covering the Osun election to use the WAFLO reporting channel through the SafeMedia WhatsApp prompt or by sending “safemedia” by text message to 0805 877 8053.
Journalists were also advised to make use of designated emergency hotlines and follow the safety measures contained in the IPC Safety Advisory.
Arogundade further advised journalists to remain properly accredited while covering the election and to carry their identification cards, press or media tags and other relevant credentials at all times.
He said this would help minimise unnecessary questioning, identity checks and possible obstruction by security personnel.
The IPC also called on security agencies, political actors, election stakeholders and other relevant authorities to respect the rights of journalists performing their constitutional and professional duties.
“We call on the security agencies, political actors, election stakeholders and other relevant authorities to respect the rights of journalists to perform their constitutional and professional responsibilities without intimidation, harassment or undue interference,” Arogundade said.
The centre also acknowledged the leadership of the Osun NUJ for supporting the technology-driven approach to documenting and responding to attacks against journalists during the election.
With the Osun governorship election approaching, the IPC said the deployment of WAFLO would provide an additional mechanism for documenting incidents involving journalists and supporting timely responses to threats and attacks.
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