Ahead Bayelsa, Imo, Kogi guber: INEC tasks participating parties to study provisions of constitution, Electoral Act, others

• Says free press crucial to democratic growth

By Lateef Ibrahim, Abuja

Chairman, Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, Prof Mahmood Yakubu has tasked political parties participating in the Bayelsa, Imo and Kogi States’ governorship elections holding on November 11, this year, to critically study and pay attention to the provisions of the Constitution, the Electoral Act, the Police Act, and the Public Order Act for the proper and peaceful conduct of political campaigns, rallies, and processions.

This is as the INEC Chairman declared that democracy will only grow and flourish through a free and vibrant media.

Prof Yakubu stated these on Monday in his remarks at the opening of a two-day workshop for INEC press Corps held at Akwanga, Nasarawa State.

The INEC National Chairman, who was represented by a National Commissioner and Chairman, Information and Voter Education Committee, Mr Sam Olumekun, expressed declared that the Commission is conscious of the critical role of the media in the nation’s political and electoral process.

In the words of Prof Yakubu, “We urge political parties participating in the off-cycle governorship elections to critically study and pay attention to the provisions of the Constitution, the Electoral Act, the Police Act, and the Public Order Act for the proper and peaceful conduct of political campaigns, rallies, and processions.

“A political campaign or slogan shall not be tainted with abusive language directly or indirectly likely to injure religious, ethnic, tribal, or sectional feelings.

“Abusive, intemperate, slanderous, or base language or innuendoes designed or likely to provoke violent reactions or emotions shall not be employed or used in political campaigns.

“Let me also remind the media of their constitutional obligations. State apparatus including the media shall not be employed to the advantage or disadvantage of any political party or candidate at any election.

“In other words, equal coverage and visibility shall be allotted to all political parties by all public print and electronic media organisations.

“The same applies in equal measure to privately owned media organizations subject to payment of appropriate fees.

“The Commission is conscious of the critical role of the media in our political and electoral process and believes that democracy will only grow and flourish through a free and vibrant media. “However, a free and vibrant press is also obliged to adhere to professional and ethical standards. Indeed, true democracy cannot exist without effective information flow”, he stressed.

Speaking on the issue of upload of election results on the IREV portal, the INEC Chairman said, “Polling Unit election results will be scanned and uploaded to the IReV portal as the Commission did during the 2023 General Election”

On the issue of movement of Non- Sensitive Materials, he said, “The non-sensitive materials required for the governorship elections have been deployed to the three States”.

In his welcome address, the Chairman of INEC Press Corps, Mr Segun Ojumu pointed out that the upcoming gubernatorial elections hold significant importance for INEC and the nation as a whole.

According to Ojumu, “Accurate and unbiased reporting is vital to ensure transparency, public trust, and the credibility of the electoral process. “Therefore, it is essential that members of the INEC Press Corps are adequately equipped with the necessary skills and knowledge to fulfil their roles effectively.

“This workshop will be a comprehensive training program designed to address the key issues faced by journalists covering elections”, he said.