… Elbling urges FG to provide security for journalists covering elections
By Joy Odor
The Chairman, Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), Professor Mahmood Yakubu on Monday affirmed the Commission’s consciousness of the the critical role of the media in Nigeria political, electoral process and believed that democracy will only grow and flourish through a free and vibrant media.
This is even as Yakubu informed that a free and vibrant press is also obliged to adhere to professional and ethical standards as the true democracy cannot exist without effective information flow.
INEC Chairman disclosed this in his remark at the two day Capacity Building for INEC Press Corps on Ethical, Safety Practices and Critical Issues Relating to the Kogi, Imo and Bayelsa Governorship Election organized by INEC, in partnership with the INEC Press Corps, and DAI in Akwanga, Nasarawa State.
According to Yakubu who was represented by the National Commissioner and Chairman, Information and Voter Education Committee, Sam Olamelekun said as first-hand witnesses to the Commission’s activities, the INEC Press Corps members become the repository of electoral information in Nigeria which places them at an advantageous position to play important roles in shaping the opinions and editorial policies of their media organizations on issues relating to the programmes and policies of the Commission.
“The implication is that Press Corps members must be familiar with the Constitutional mandate of the Commission and the roles and powers ascribed to it.
“They must therefore strive to understand the intendment and nuances of the powers granted to the Commission by the Constitution and the Electoral Act that are expressed in subsidiary legislations including the Commission’s Regulations, Guidelines and Manuals.
“Basically, and as established over time, the role of the media, especially the INEC Press Corp in the electoral process is to:
a. Avail the stakeholders with timely and relevant information pertaining to the electoral process;
b. Carry out voter education and public enlightenment;
c. Mobilize the electorate to participate in the electoral process through awakening in them, the consciousness of taking ownership of the political process;
d. Give visibility and life to the programmes and activities of the Election Management Body with a view to updating stakeholders on the developments in the electoral process;
e. Publicize information and activities of political parties and candidates, with a view to assisting the electorate make informed decisions and choices; and
f. Ensure through their searchlight and reports that the process and rules of engagement in the electoral system as codified in the electoral legal framework are duly complied with.
“This workshop is coming as we intensity our preparations for the off-cycle Governorship elections scheduled for 11th November in Bayelsa, Imo and Kogi States.
“The purpose of this exercise is to deepen the participants’ knowledge of the Commission’s processes and procedures, which will go a long way in ensuring factual, balanced, and informed coverage of the Commission’s activities.
“You will agree with me that INEC has modestly demonstrated its commitment, over time, to the professional development media practitioners, enabling them to be well equipped with the requisite knowledge to report electoral activities accurately. Let me assure you we will continue to do.
“As you may be aware, the Commission on Thursday 12th October 2023 presented the soft copies of a combined total of 5,409,438 registered voters for the Baylesa, Imo and kogi Governorship elections to Chairmen of political parties in the states. The Commission also successfully carried out the Mock Accreditation of Voters in selected Polling Units across Senatorial zones in the three states on Saturday, 14th October 2023. Some of you accompanied the Hon. Chairman to witness this exercise in Kogi state.
For the three governorship elections scheduled for 11th November, the Commission will deploy the Bimodal Voter Accreditation System (BVAS) to authenticate the Permanent Voter’s Card (PVC) and upload polling unit results to the INEC Result Viewing Portal (IREV) seamlessly on election day.
We urge political parties participating in the off-cycle governorship elections to critically study and pay attention to the provisions of the Constitution, the Electoral Act, the Police Act, and the Public Order Act for the proper and peaceful conduct of political campaigns, rallies, and processions.
A political campaign or slogan shall not be tainted with abusive language directly or indirectly likely to injure religious, ethnic, tribal, or sectional feelings. Abusive, intemperate, slanderous, or base language or innuendoes designed or likely to provoke violent reactions or emotions shall not be employed or used in political campaigns.
Let me also remind the media of their constitutional obligations. State apparatus including the media shall not be employed to the advantage or disadvantage of any political party or candidate at any election. In other words, equal coverage and visibility shall be allotted to all political parties by all public print and electronic media organisations. The same applies in equal measure to privately owned media organizations subject to payment of appropriate fees.
Permit me at this juncture to intimate you about the activities of the Commission in furtherance to the much anticipated off cycle elections.
Electoral delimitation of the three States.
Bayelsa State has Eight (8) LGAs, One Hundred and Five (105) Registration Areas/Wards and Two Thousand Two Hundred and Forty-Four Polling Units (2,244). Imo State has Twenty-Seven (27) LGAs, Three Hundred and Five (305) Registration Areas/Wards and Four Thousand Seven Hundred and Fifth-Eight Polling Units (4,758). Kogi State has Twenty-One (21) LGAs, Two Hundred and Thirty-Nine (239) Registration Areas/Wards and Three Thousand Five Hundred and Eight Polling Units (,508).
Highlights of Commission’s Activities for Bayelsa, Imo and Kogi Governorship Elections
Register of Voters- Soft Copies of the Register of Voters were presented to the State Chairmen of political parties or their designated representatives at ceremonies that took place at the Collation Centres in the State Headquarters of the Commission in Yenagoa, Owerri and Lokoja on Thursday 12th October 2023.
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State Registered voters
Bayelsa 1,056,862
Imo 2,419,922
Kogi 1,932654
INEC Press Portal Recruitment of Ad -Hoc Staff – Ad-Hoc staff portal for the November 2023 off-cycle Governorship Elections in Bayelsa, Imo and Kogi States was opened on Thursday, 31st August 2023 at 8.00 a.m. and closed on Monday, 2nd October 2023 12.00 Midnight. The summary of successful applicants shows that Bayelsa and Kogi have full complement of their requirement for all categories of Ad-hoc staff, while Imo has a shortfall of 6,154. The shortfall will be sourced from the neighbouring state.
Mock Accreditation of Voters: The Mock Accreditation of Voters in the three (3) states to test-run the Bimodal Voter Accreditation System (BVAS) and upload of the designated polling units results to the INEC Result Viewing Portal (IReV) took place simultaneously in the three states on Saturday 14th October 2023 from 8.30 am to 2.30 pm.
Election Materials: The election materials have been moved to the various states.
RAC Assessment: The Registration Area Center (RAC) and Collation Center assessment is completed. The engagement with RAC officials on Standard Operating Procedure (SOP) for RAC management in Imo, Kogi and Bayelsa States has been completed.
PEP Workshop: The Pre-Election Planning technical workshop (PEP) for EOs, AEOs, HoU Training and HODs (Operation) for Bayelsa, Imo and Kogi States, have been completed.
Transportation: The Commission is harvesting operational vehicles from neighboring States and headquarters for logistics purposes to complement the number of vehicles needed by each of the state during the elections
The lists of Accredited Observers Group: The lists of Accredited Observers Group for the three states were published in two national dailies (Guardian and Daily Trust Newspapers) on Tuesday 10th October 2023 for public attention/view. In the same vein, the shortlisted Accredited Observers have been briefed and issued with Accreditation Letters and Code of Conduct on Thursday 12th October 2023.
Printing of Party Agents Tags: Printing of Party Agents Tags shall commence today, 16th October 2023.
Training: Training of Trainers (TOT) for poll officials for the governorship elections took place on Friday on 13th October 2023.
Media Coverage – Fifty-Five (55) Media Organizations, comprising 914 personnel have applied through the Commission’s portal for coverage of the elections as of Friday 13th October 2023.
Upload of results on the IREV portal: Polling Unit election results will be scanned and uploaded to the IReV portal as the Commission did during the 2023 General Election.
Movement of Non- Sensitive Materials: The non-sensitive materials required for the governorship elections have been deployed to the three States.
The INEC Press Corp is an indispensable partner in the electoral process, and they provide a veritable platform and pathway for the dissemination of electoral information to the Nigerian public. The Commission will continue to collaborate with you in providing the requisite information that enables you all to engage in the electoral process and educate citizens to make informed choices.
Finally, let me thank the European Union that has through the European Union Support to Democratic Governance in Nigeria (EU-SDGN II) Programme implemented by the Development Alternatives Incorporated (DAI) for consistently supporting the work of the Commission.
In his address, the Team Leader, Development Alternative Incorporated (DIA) in Nigeria, Rudolf Elbling narrated that a democratic election without Journalists would not be impossible.
He advocated for the Nigeria government to provide adequate security for journalists covering elections in every step.
According to Elbling, Nigerian Elections can be dangerous for journalists, tense and sometimes violent campaigns or announcement of results can endanger those trying to report honestly and accurately.
He maintained that the responsibility for protecting the physical security of everyone within its territory rests with the federal government of Nigeria
“However, as we have often observed there might not be any security agents present, or, willing to attend to journalists due to one or the other reason, which puts the Nigerian Journalist in a precarious situation.
“You have chosen very interesting topics for your workshop today, and I am sure that with the tremendous experience in the room exciting ideas will emerge.In this sense, all the best for this workshop, for your important work and for the elections if you are going to the field” he stated.
