The Nigerian Guild of Editors, NGE, has promised to collaborate successfully with the Independent Nation Commission, INEC, to conduct the 2023 general elections.
President of NGE, Mustapha Isah, disclosed this in Lagos at the interactive session with INEC officials and Nigerian Editors.
He said the collaboration was part of the resolutions from the Editors ‘Workshops and Town Hall Meetings with the theme, “Media and the Task of Consolidating Nigeria’s Democracy,” held in the six geo-political zones in late 2021 and early 2022.
The areas of collaboration will cover enlightenment on Voters’ education, vote buying, and electoral offenses bills.
Mustapha Isah stated it was imperative for Editors to interrogate the democratic landscape thoroughly, political actors, candidates, the electoral umpire, security agencies, and all other groups involved in conducting and monitoring elections.
READ ALSO: Nigeria Editors interact with Electoral Umpires on 2023 Election
JOURNALISTS’ SENSE OF PATRIOTISMÂ
In his words, “they designed the interactive session to provide the stakeholders an opportunity to address Editors on the preparations for the 2023 general elections.
“Editors will also seek clarifications on different issues and ask critical questions on election matters, with a view to bring the right information to the electorate ahead of the elections.”
The NGE explained that “Nigerian journalists should be genuinely interested in the nurturing and deepening of the democratic space because they played a key role in the fight for the restoration of democracy.”
REGRETS
He regretted that while some politicians who are dominating the political space today were busy organising one million man marches for the former Head of state, General Sani Abacha to continue in office forever, Journalists were in the forefront, calling on the military to return to the barracks.
According to Mustapha Isah, some journalists paid the supreme price during the transition period, and others were jailed for embarking on this noble but dangerous venture. Some went into exile while some media houses were shut for months.
“Those who didn’t fight for democracy may not be able to defend it. Little wonder that the current politicians can’t even uphold internal party democracy.”
ELECTORAL CONFIDENCE
The Guild of Editors expressed confidence in the new technology introduced by INEC during the two off-season elections in Ekiti and Osun states, calling on the electoral commission to improve on its shortcomings and not to disappoint the electorates in the 2023 elections.
APPRECIATIONÂ
The INEC Chairman, Professor Mahood Yakubu, appreciated the collaboration of the Editors and promised to deliver free, fair, and credible elections.
He agreed that the media must monitor the electoral process and ensure compliance with the provisions of the constitution, the Electoral Act, and the INEC guidelines for the conduct
the elections.
95,000 BALLOTS FOR THE 2023 ELECTIONÂ
He said 95,000 ballots would be printed for the forthcoming elections, as new voters are coming on stream through the recently concluded voters registration across the country.
They will open the register for claims and objections in the coming weeks, while 1.4 million ad-hoc staff will conduct the elections.
” New entrants are coming into the INEC register which has been cleaned up and ready for use after claims and objections,” INEC Chairman stated.
Editors at the interactive session expressed satisfaction with the initiative. They were drawn from print, electronic, and online media organisations.
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