Edo Guber: IPC Calls For Free, Fair, Credible Poll

By Simeon OSAJIE

The Executive Director, International Press Centre (IPC), Lanre Arogundade, has stated that for a free, fair, credible and peaceful governorship election in Edo State, all stakeholders must perform their roles without bias, bearing in mind the citizens’ interest.

According to him, it is in the interest of the general public that should create our supervisory principles, and not any other interest, be it partisan, cultural, religion or political.

Arogundade disclosed this in Benin City, Edo State capital during two-day dialogue with journalists and critical stakeholders in the Edo State governorship electoral process.

He said that the programme was part of the activities being executed by the IPC with support from the European Union for democratic governance in Nigeria.

The former Chairman of the Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ) Lagos State Council who charged the police and other security agencies to guarantee safety of journalists during and after the election, recapped the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) and security agencies of the media code of election coverage in the Nigeria.

“Let me at this point draw the attention of the representative of the INEC, the Police and the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC) to the fact that the media code of election coverage in Nigeria requires the institutions to provide a conducive environment for the journalists to carry out their duties before, during and after elections.

“The government and its agency shall ensure free movement of journalists to any part of the country during elections. INEC and security agencies should conduct themselves within the confines of the Constitution, and should not take sides with any political party or individuals. Where there are cases of attack on journalists, we expect prompt investigation by the police force,” he said.

The IPC boss urged INEC to be proactive by providing journalists with necessary information regarding the election so as to aid accurate and credible reporting of the electoral process and guide against misinformation.

On his part, Taiwo Obe, Executive Director, Journalism Clinic and one of the resource persons urged journalists to leverage on modern technologies in telling their stories.

While emphasising the place of research and knowledge in journalism, Obe stressed the need for journalists to use their professionalism in this social media age to fight misinformation even as Edo State gubernatorial election draws closer.

Part of the activities lined up for the second day dialogue with journalists, was interactive session with critical stakeholder on Edo Governorship Election including INEC Public Affairs Officer, Olayiwola Toyin, Edo State Police Public Relations Officer (PPRO), SP Chidi Nwabuzor, Edo State NSCDC Public Relations Officer, Efosa Ogbebor, Edo State NUJ Chairman, Comrade Festus Alenkhe, Edo NAWOJ Chairperson, Adesuwa Ehimuan and Edo State Online Media Practitioner Protem Secretary, Samuel Dada Ayokhai