Polls: INEC Officials to Sleep over at Ward Headquarters

The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) said on Wednesday that all election presiding officials and other ad-hoc staff for the coming general election will sleep at the ward headquarters of the area in which they are to serve as election officials. The Assistant Director, Broadcast of the Commission, Chukwuemeka Ugboaja, stated this while speaking at a three-day training workshop on election safety for Journalists organised by Media Foundation for West Africa (MFWA) and the Nigerian Union Journalists (NUJ). According to the Commission, the plan is to ensure that logistics problems do not occur and that all polling units open at scheduled time. “INEC officials will sleep in Registration Area Centres (RACs) just like we did in Osun during the governorship election where we achieved 100% in commencing voting process,” he stated, adding that the Commission is counting on the media for support in the national assignment. “INEC cannot afford to toy with the media and that INEC will commence accreditation of Journalists tomorrow,” he added and expressed worries over the way and manner some social media practitioners are spreading fake news. He solicited the support of the media in ensuring that fake election results are not put out to the public before official outcomes from the Commission, saying that INEC is working with inter-agency security committee to ensure the safety of everyone involved in the election process. Also speaking, Prof. Mitchelle Betz, of MFWA, said that Journalists, as eyes of the public must be neutral and that their role during election is very critical as well as dangerous, therefore the need for discussion on their safely while they are working for peaceful elections. He said that the media is supposed to work with the Police in order to ensure that it does not remain a source of worry to the people during elections.” The President of NUJ, Mr. Christopher Isiguzor, earlier in his welcome address, stated that attacks against Journalists and their work tools pose serious threats to press freedom, adding that the Union is committed to the safety and protection of its members. “The Union wishes to stress its commitment to the objectives and principles enshrined in the Abuja Declaration of November 12, 2007 by the Federation of African Journalists, especially as it relates to coordinating actions to improve the safety and security of Journalists and work with International Agencies and other stakeholders to confront impunity and build a culture of safety in Journalism. “We accept that for us to achieve this, we require collective efforts and that is why we are here today engaging the support of the Nigeria Police to establish, maintain and sustain a good working relationship. “NUJ believes that protecting journalists is not treating journalists as a special case but because journalists are singled out and targeted as a result of their noble and legitimate work and that the terrain in which they work is very difficult and prone to so many hazards. Protection and safety of journalists is a humanitarian as well as professional concern, and therefore should be everybody’s concern. “We appreciate this partnership with the Media Foundation for West African (MFWA) and the International Media Support (IMS) based in Copenhagen and hope that this partnership will be sustained,” he concluded.