Saturday’s Polls: NUJ Demands Free, Fair Process Of Election
As Nigerians go to polls on Saturday, February 25, 2023, the National President of the Nigeria Union of Journalists, Comrade Chris Isiguzo, has called on the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), to ensure a smooth, free and fair process where the people’s choice will emerge as President of the Country. This he said is very important and necessary for the unity, progress and development of the Country.
This was as Isiguzo particularly frowned at a situation where those in authority deliberately use security personnel or other freelance non State Actors to threaten Journalists or out rightly attack them and their equipment.
These were contained in a statement by Mr. Shuaibu Usman Leman, National Secretary of the NUJ, in which Isiguzo urged politicians to stop overheating the polity through blackmail, hate speeches, spreading of fake news, use of intemperate language, vote buying and violence.
The NUJ President said that the Nigeria Union of Journalists National Secretariat in furtherance of its roles of promoting the nation’s democratic culture, has opened an Elections Situation Room at the headquarters of the Union in Abuja ahead of the Presidential and National Assembly elections scheduled for this Saturday.
Isiguzo, who heads the Situation Room, said it is expected to receive reports from Journalists on election duty on acts of impunity against the media through dedicated telephone numbers to be provided to all the 36 State Councils and the FCT of the Union.
He urged Journalists to be on the alert at all times while on election duty just as he specifically advised Journalists in the field to work together with other colleagues in groups and warned them to avoid areas where they feel insecure or threatened.
In realisation of the need to promote safety of Journalists and peaceful elections through professional coverage of elections, Isiguso said that the NUJ in collaboration with the Election Management Body – INEC and Centre for Democracy and Development – CDD organised series of workshops late last year on Conflict Sensitive Reporting and the 2023 General Election for Journalists across the Country.
He appealed to the Federal and State governments to take effective measures for better protection of journalists while on election duty.
