By Joseph Labaran, Lokoja
The only way towards ensuring a credible and transparent 2019 general elections is a strict adherence to electoral rules by the institution saddled with the conduct of elections in the country.
The Kogi State Chairman of the Nigeria Union of Journalists, Comrade. Momoh Jimoh Adeiza disclosed this on Friday at a one day community dialogue on anti corruption, transparency and accountability, organised by Centre for Human Rights and Conflict Resolution, in partnership with the Shehu Musa Yar’adua foundation, with support of Mac Arthur Foundation.
Comrade Adeiza advised the INEC and the Security Agents, including the electorate to live up to their responsibilities by ensuring free, fair and a credible 2019 elections.
The NUJ Chairman urged electorate not violate the electoral guidelines of the next month general election, stressing that the impartially of INEC and Security agencies is crucial to the success of the election, saying that the world is watching with keen interest their conduct through the process of the election.
The NUJ boss hinted further that the 2019 elections would only be credible, free and fair when the will of the people is not subverted by the stakeholders in the institution of election management.
He therefore called for strict adherence to the rules, saying that doing otherwise by the principal institutions charged with the conduct of the polls would certainly lead to public outcry, break down of law and order.
Comrade Adeiza equally lamented the increased rate of drug and substance intake by youths, saying that evidence abound that the use of these substances by some people in most cases have led to several electoral violent situation, calling on the necessary agencies like the police and the National Drug law Enforcement Agency to check the negative trend in power enhancing drugs that is currently becoming a worrisome in the nation’s history.
Also ,Gift Omoniwa, representing the Civil Society, said promoting accountability and transparency in electoral process, is a major determinant to ensuring a credible election.
Mrs Omoniwa encouraged women on the need to actively get involved in political activities, but cautioned against women selling their votes in exchange for salts, Maggi cubes; even as she warned against violence against women during the period.
Mrs Omoniwa therefore encouraged Nigerians to get registered, select candidates of their choice, vote and protect their votes.
Earlier in his remarks, Comrade Idris Miliki, Executive Director, Centre for Human Rights and Conflict Resolution, said the dialogue session is equipping the electorate, the Civil Society and the Media on the electoral rules, to enable them engage INEC and Security officials on the need to follow the laid down electoral guidelines and for them to ask the right questions.
Comrade Miliki therefore appealed to the media, civil society organizations, and community leaders on the need to help project the dos and don’ts guiding the conduct of the 2019 general elections.
And in his his remarks, Donatus Okpe, the former general manager kogi state own newspaper, “The Graphic” who Chaired the dialogue session stressed that institutions charged with the conduct of elections should owe their allegiance to the constitution of the country.
Mr. Donatus urged the media to imbibe the professional ethics in their coverage or reporting of the election, especially the principle of , accuracy, objectivity, balancing and safety while reporting the 2019 general election.
He called on the media to mobilize the electorate and the institutions tasked with conduct of elections to adhere to electoral guidelines and ensure that the elections are free, fair and credible.
