CONTINUE TO BE AMBASSADORS OF INEC- PROFESSOR YAKUBU TELLS MEDIA
Oru Leonard
Chairman, Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), Professor Mahmood Yakubu has urged the media to continue to be ambassadors of the Commission.
Mahmood stated this during the quarterly consultative meeting with the media on Thursday, October 26, 2023.
The INEC Chairman informed that 94 media organizations would be deploying 1,255 personnel for the off- cycle polls in Bayelsa, Imo and Kogi states, adding that in the next few days, the accredited media organisations will be notified of the date for the collection of the identity cards for their officials.
He also urged all media organizations to strictly adhere to the ethics of their profession in discharging their responsibilities during the monitoring of the elections, explaining that a digital modified accreditation Media tags have been printed for all journalists.
“Election is a multi-stakeholder activity. In discharging our responsibilities, we will continue to engage with all stakeholders. One of such engagements is with the security agencies. In previous elections, media organizations have expressed concern about the safety of journalists, and technical staff and the protection of the equipment you deploy on Election Day. Similarly, you have on several occasions urged the Commission to intercede with the security agencies to grant you unimpeded access to polling and collation locations. I want to reassure you that we will continue to do so as we engage with the security agencies both at the national level and in the three States.
“At the same time, I wish to remind all media organizations to strictly adhere to the ethics of your profession. We welcome reports on the election. At the same time, you should form a bulwark against fake news. For the avoidance of doubt, the Commission does not believe in censorship. We have said repeatedly that the best antidote to fake news is greater openness and regular and consistent engagement with stakeholders. We will continue to work together in this regard”, The INEC Boss stated.
He directed that Media organisations that want to deploy reporters for the elections in the riverine areas of the states especially Southern Ijaw Local government areas of Bayelsa state to contact the commission for provisions of security cover.
Responding on behalf of the Media, Executives, the Director News, Federal Radio Cooperation of Nigeria (FRCN), Mrs Husseina Bangshika who represented the President of the Nigerian Union of Journalists (NUJ), Comrade Isiguzo, commended INEC for its sustained collaboration with the media, saying the commission had come to understand that media is integral to the country electoral process and her democracy.
She enjoined the commission to continue to engage the security agencies on the safety of journalists in the coming elections in Kogi, Imo and Bayelsa and pledged the continued collaboration of the media with INEC.
