By; BAYO AKAMO Ibadan
With few weeks to the general elections, the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has hinted that politicians engaging in buying Permanent Voter’s Cards (PVCs) for the 2023 general elections are wasting their time, energy and resources.
INEC National Commissioner in charge of Voters Education and Publicity, Mr. Festus Okoye dropped this hint in Ibadan at a one-day training for journalists organised by Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ) in collaboration with INEC.
Mr. Okoye while speaking through the INEC Deputy Director in charge of Gender Department, Mrs. Ndidi Okafor, said concerning the 2023 general elections, there will be no room for malpractices, saying, the only reason that may prevents many people from voting during the elections is identity theft.
“Anyone buying PVCs is embarking on effort in futility. It is an effort in futility. It is not possible to snatch ballot boxes and ballot papers again. It is because of technology. The only reason why some people will not vote is identity theft”, he said.
Mr Okoye added, ” what we are dealing with is the finger print and the face. So, if your finger did not match, then your face must march. If your finger print did not match and your face did not match, then you cannot vote, that means you are not the owner of the PVC. That is identity theft”.
Speaking at the workshop, NUJ National President, Chief Chris Isiguzo said the union is ready to work with INEC to ensure that democracy works properly in Nigeria.
Represented by the National Trustee. NUJ Zone F, Mrs Abimbola Oyetunde, Chief Isiguzo pointed out that Media Professionals in Nigeria are determined to promote democracy and development as the media ” are an essential factor in the process of democracy”, saying, ” they do not only monitor governance and make government accountable, but also help to mobilise the populace to participate in the process of governance and development.”
” For us as media professionals, we see it as a cardinal objective to promote democracy and development and therefore we shall continue to work with INEC to ensure that democracy works properly in the country”, he said
The NUJ National President added, “the Media, regarded as the fourth estate of the realm, are an essential factor in the process of democracy. They do not only monitor governance and make government accountable, but also help to mobilise the populace to participate in the process of governance and development”.
Stressing that there is the need for government through its officials to be honest, responsible, transparent, accountable, efficient in administration and services delivery, Chief Isiguzo noted that ” where any of these is lacking or is deliberately subverted, it is the responsibility of the media to raise alarm. It is therefore clear that the media are central in the process of ensuring credible elections in the country.”
” It is an incontrovertible fact that the indispensable functions of the media cannot be performed without the guarantee of the safety of Journalists and media workers. Without doubt, the safety of Journalists is absolutely essential to the Civil, political, economic, social and cultural rights of all citizens as well as the right to development.”
The NUJ National President said ” the NUJ believes that for the masses of this country to actively participate in the democratic process, the media itself must be strengthened to ensure that some of the mechanisms through which community empowerment can be achieved are put in place” and that ” this includes the unhindered access to information, and proactive initiatives like this with INEC which is aimed at strengthening the way and manner Journalists perform their work during election times”.
Stating that the professional responsibility of media cannot be over emphasized, the NUJ National President said, ” we all know that the feature of democracy lies in periodic and credible elections, during which mandates are either renewed or new leaders emerge. Election is therefore a necessity in promoting the democratic process.
INEC Administrative Secretary, Mr Abiodun Amosun in his goodwill message said ” journalists are expected to have thorough understanding of all issues pertaining to elections, so as to help them convey details to citizens in simple and clear terms aimed at deepening democratic dividends and that the commission will always be up to the task and available to attend to everything that falls within the ambit of its mandates as enshrined in the Federal Republic of Nigeria’s as we have always been doing.
At the training were NUJ President, Chris Isiguzo who was represented by NUJ National Trustee in charge of Zone F, Abimbola Oyetunde, NUJ National Trustee in charge of Zone B, Mr. Adebayo Akamo, NUJ Zone B Vice President, Mrs. Ronke Afebioye Samo, NUJ Chairman in Oyo state, Ademola Babalola and INEC Administrative Secretary in Oyo state, Alhaji Abiodun Onikate-Amosu among others.
