From Everest Ezihe, Owerri
The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has commenced the training of media executives who will participate in the Imo State off-circle gubernatorial election scheduled to hold on Saturday 11th November.
Mohammed Kudu Haruna, the National Commissioner and member Information and Voter Education Committee said in Owerri during a special interactive training meeting with select media executives in the state.
According to him, “this strategic engagement with this calibre of media personnel is very apt coming ahead of the scheduled 11th November governorship election in the state.
“The Commission has a long-standing partnership with the media in the country which is being consolidated with an engagement such as this.
“We sincerely appreciate the support of the media in providing voter education, electoral information and your involvements in other activities of the Commission.
“The Media remains one of our critical stakeholders, such that we have over 100 members of INEC Press Corps from various media organisations in the country who cover activities of the Commission on a regular basis.
Haruna pointed out that in reporting the activities of the Commission, pre-election, election, and post-election activities, the Commission often pleads with the media to be factual, objective, and professional in their reportage.
“The media must also not make any declaration or return of any election as it is the exclusive preserve of the Commission,” he said.
Earlier, Prof. Sylvia Agu, the State Resident Electoral Commissioner expressed to the stakeholders to the very important engagement with media executives in Imo State.
In his good will message, Comrade Ifeanyi Nwanguma, the Chairman, Nigeria Union Of Journalists, Imo State Council said that, “without viable media, democracy and development will never thrive”.
He used the opportunity to appeal to security agencies in Imo State to see journalists as partners and not valians during the election.
