November 01, (THEWILL) – The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), on Friday, announced the successful accreditation of over 700 media personnel from 112 media organisations, to cover the November 16 governorship election in Ondo State.
INEC Chairman, Prof. Mahmood Yakubu, who disclosed this on Friday, at a meeting with media executives, appealed to the accredited outlets, including newspapers, radio, television and online platforms, for accurate reportage to ensure peaceful elections.
Prof. Yakubu enjoined the media to continue to serve as a counterforce against fake news, misinformation and disinformation.
“Our voter education efforts are ongoing, The capacity of election duty staff has improved with hands-on training, especially for polling unit officials.
“As we approach the Ondo State governorship election, there will be further improvements, especially in the areas of logistics for the movement of personnel and materials for both land and riverine locations to enable the prompt commencement of polls as well as the management of the processes on election day from voting to declaration of result.
“Already, mock accreditation of voters and result upload to the IReV has been scheduled for Wednesday, 6th November 2024, in 12 polling units across six local government areas in the three senatorial districts of the state”, he said, adding that the Commission will undertake a final readiness assessment of its preparations for the Ondo election next week, including meeting with officials of the commission, engagement with stakeholders and interaction with the security agencies and transport providers.
The INEC Chairman noted that there has been no major incident of election-related violence but said the commission is aware of flashpoints in some local government areas, and stated that the attention of the security agencies has been drawn.
President of the Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ), Comrade Chris Isiguzo, called for the security of journalists covering the Ondo election. He urged security agencies to take proactive steps to guarantee the safety of media professionals, especially in light of the intensified threats and heightened risks that journalists face in today’s environment.
“Clampdowns, intimidation, and harassment must have no place in a democratic society; rather, it is imperative that we demonstrate maturity and respect in our dealings with media professionals, ensuring their freedom to conduct legitimate work without fear or interference”, he added.
Felix Ifijeh is a journalist with years of professional reporting experience. Known for his keen news sense, compelling storytelling and commitment to accurate, impactful reporting, he has built a reputation for turning leads into clear, engaging, and well-structured reports that resonate with readers. His work reflects deep newsroom experience and a commitment to accurate, impactful journalism.
