The International Press Centre (IPC), Lagos- Nigeria has tasked journalists and other relevant stakeholders on safety consciousness in the performance of key institutional roles as the re-scheduled presidential and national Assembly elections holds on Saturday.
IPC Director, Mr. Lanre Arogundade, in a press statement today, signed by Program Officer/ Safety Alert Officer IPC, Melody Akinjiyan, sounded this caution in the light of the emerging accusations and counter accusations by political actors and other players in the electoral process.
“It is very important for journalists covering the general elections to be safety conscious in the discharge of their duties, and to avoid situations that will put them in harms way. Journalists are expected to be non-partisan. Being partisan is not only about being a member of a political party, but also includes the use of expressions and/or impressions with statements, tags, symbols and colours that portray or identify with a particular political party or personality”, Arogundade said.
He also admonished other stakeholders, especially the security agencies to undertake their tasks in a very professional manner.
“The security agencies in recent times are the perpetrators of violence against journalists. Recent incidents as witnessed in the Osun re-run elections had shown vagrant abuse and violations of the rights of journalists. The security forces should note that the media is a critical part of the electoral process and so the media should be accorded due rights and privileges to enable them carry out their social obligations as partners in enshrining the credibility of the electoral process.
“Other stakeholders, including elections observers should also proactively provide journalists covering the elections with information to ensure that all work together for the credibility of the electoral process”, Arogundade added.
As part of initiatives to keep tab on the safety consciousness of journalists, IPC said that there are safety alert officers across the zones who journalists under threat can report to.
Arogundade said that in cases of attacks or insecurity issues, concerned journalists on the field can contact any of the following persons:
Lanre Arogundade (Director, IPC) – 08023186845; Melody Akinjiyan (Safety Alert Officer, IPC) – 08132776441; Nwaebuni Rosemary (South South) – 08035146978; Bello MujtabaRamalan (North West) – 08037004618; Moses Ojo (South West) – 08034399077; AbdulkareemHaruna (North East) – 08057244878; Elizabeth Achuagu (South East) – 08033538251 and Naomi Okoh (North Central) – 07031265156.
Mr. Arogundade also enjoined journalists to report any threats to the National Secretariat of the NUJ or the NUJ State Chapters.
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