The Impartial Nationwide Electoral Fee has promised journalists unimpeded entry and enhanced safety for voters and personnel within the Edo and Ondo governorship elections.
INEC has scheduled the Edo State governorship election for September 21, 2024, and the Ondo State election for November 16, 2024.
INEC Chairman, Professor Mahmood Yakubu, stated this throughout INEC’s quarterly consultative assembly with media executives on Wednesday in Abuja.
He urged journalists to proceed combating pretend information forward of the elections.
He acknowledged, “It’s now 51 days to the Edo State Governorship election arising on Saturday twenty first September 2024. Our preparations are happening in earnest.
“I’m glad to report that now we have recovered from the torrential rainfall that resulted within the extreme flooding of our State Headquarters in Benin Metropolis two months in the past.
“The injury to the bodily infrastructure in addition to movable and immovable amenities are being mounted or changed.
Yakubu acknowledged that political campaigns by events and candidates are actively ongoing in each Edo and Ondo States.
He expressed concern over a current incident in Edo State that led to the demise of a safety personnel however famous that no additional incidents have been reported since then.
He added, “Nonetheless, the fee will meet with the safety businesses as early as Friday this week beneath the auspices of the Inter-Company Consultative Committee on Election Safety.
“I need to guarantee you that safety in Edo and Ondo shall be a significant subject for dialogue on the assembly.
“We’re as involved in regards to the security of your personnel and gear simply as we’re in regards to the safety of our officers, observers, service suppliers, and, above all, the voters. We may even work with the safety businesses to make sure that accredited journalists are granted unimpeded entry to all voting and collation areas.
In his feedback, the President of the Nigeria Union of Journalists, Chris Isiguzo, reaffirmed the media’s dedication to supporting INEC in sustaining electoral integrity.
He emphasised that the media will proceed to collaborate with INEC to advertise a clear, accountable democratic course of that displays the individuals’s will.
He additionally highlighted that the partnership between INEC and the media is crucial as Nigeria approaches the low season gubernatorial elections in Edo and Ondo.