|
Listen to article
|
The Imo State Council of the Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ) has given its word to stand by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) in its efforts to ensure a November 11th gubernatorial election that is free, fair, and credible within the state.
Council chairman Ifeanyi Nwanguma made this commitment at a workshop for media executives organised by INEC in advance of the governorship election.
He emphasised again that the media’s vital role in upholding and advancing democracy, good governance, and development cannot be overstated, likening the media to ‘the oxygen that drives democracy and development all over the world.’
The Imo NUJ chief executive officer also made a plea to security forces within the state to acknowledge, accept, and work alongside journalists as partners in the upcoming election. He underscored the critical contribution of media practitioners in achieving elections devoid of violence and marked by credibility.
Read also: NUJ Cries Out About Deplorable Road Networks In Anambra
He called upon media practitioners to resist any inclination to get involved in the tasks of INEC and security agents during the election. He reiterated that, in accordance with constitutional principles, the sole authority for announcing election results rests with the electoral commission.
Nwanguma further hailed INEC for organising the media meeting, which he described as timely and important. He emphasised that it provided media executives in the state the opportunity to scrutinise the state of media in Imo and other serious issues in the state, and also pave the way forward.
However, INEC has restated its allegiance to conduct a free, fair and credible November 11 governorship election in Imo. The Commission assured the Imo electorate that it will remain an impartial umpire, resisting any attempt to compromise standards during the election.
The Resident Electoral Commissioner (REC), Prof. Sylvia Agu, represented by Emmanuela Opara, Imo INEC Head of Voter Education and Publicity Department, assured while speaking to Labour Party (LP) members who stormed the Commission’s headquarters in Owerri, yesterday, on a peaceful protest. She said: ‘There will be free and fair elections in the state. Other RECs will be part of the election, because it is an off-cycle election.’
‘The Bimodal Voter Accreditation System (BVAS) machines will work, and they will work optimally. Our BVhasave never failed, and I can assure you we will have a credible election in the state.’
