By Ameer Obansa.
The Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ) has called on the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) and Police to ensure transparent and credible elections in 2019.
The Kogi State Chairman of NUJ, MomohJimoh Adeiza made the call weekend at a one day community dialogue on anti corruption, transparency and accountability, organised by Centre for Human Rights and Conflict Resolution (CHRCR) in partnership with the Shehu Musa Yar’adua foundation with support of Mac Arthur Foundation.
He advised INEC and the security agents to live up to their responsibilities by ensuring free, fair and a credible 2019 elections that would be acceptable to Nigerians and the international community.
The NUJ Chairman warned citizenry against violating the electoral guidelines for the forthcoming 2019 general elections stressing that the impartially of INEC and Security agencies is crucial to the success of the election, even as he said the world is watching with keen interest their conduct throughout the process of the election.
The NUJ boss maintained that the 2019 elections would only be credible, free and fair when the will of the people is not subverted by the stakeholders and the election management body.
The NUJ Boss 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.
The NUJ Chairman equally lamented the increased rate of drug and substance intake by youths, noting that evidence abound that the use of these substances leads to several electoral violence.
He called on the necessary agencies like the police and the National Drug law Enforcement Agency to check the negative trend in substance abuse that is currently becoming a misnomer in the nation’s history.
Also speaking at the dialogue session, Gift Omoniwa, representing the Civil Society, says 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 and cautioned against women selling their votes in exchange for salts, Maggi cubes,.
Mrs Omoniwa encouraged Nigerians who are of voting age to register, select candidates of their choice, vote and protect their votes.
Earlier in his welcome remarks, Com. Idris Miliki, Executive Director, Centre for Human Rights and Conflict Resolution, said the dialogue session is to equipping the electorates, the Civil Society and the Media on the electoral laws , 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.
Com. Miliki, appealed to the media, civil society organizations, and community leaders on the need to help project the rules guiding the conduct of the 2019 general elections.
Making his remarks, Donatus Okpe, 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 on professional, accurate, objective, balanced and safety reporting of the 2019 general election, calling on the media to mobilize the electorates and the institutions for the election.
Highlights of the dialogue session was understanding the seven step voting procedures for the 2019 general elections. The session which later went through group work, made recommendations on anti corruption, transparency and accountability in elections.
