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Elections: Stakeholders chart ways to protect journalists

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Elections: Stakeholders chart ways to protect journalists

 

By Deborah Coker

Civil Society Organisations (CSOs) and the media on Wednesday met to chart ways of achieving credible general elections and ensuring the protection of journalists during the polls.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the engagement was at a Media/CSO Roundtable on the 2023 elections.

The roundtable was organised by International Press Centre (IPC) and YIAGA Africa on behalf of the cohort of European Union Support to Democratic Governance in Nigeria -Phase 2 (EU-SDGN II).

In their various remarks, the speakers stressed the need for credible polls as well as the protection of journalists covering the elections in various parts of the country.

They also raised concerns on some issues that may pose serious challenge to the conduct of the elections.

According to Mr Lanre Arogundade, Executive Director, IPC, enabling environment should be provided for the CSOs and the media to do their jobs during the elections.

Arogundade noted that insecurity and electoral violence were some of the challenges that would affect the ability of the media to perform its role effectively.

“We want to make a clarion call to save democracy. Coming from the media, we have our concerns.

“From the point of view of security, we are deeply concerned”, he said.

Arogundade therefore called on those whose actions could either help to make or mar the electoral process, especially the security and law enforcement agencies to ensure that their allegiance was to the constitution of the country.

He also said that their allegiance should be to the various electoral laws put together to ensure credible 2023 general elections.

“It will be so bad if such laws are set aside on the basis of any form of expediency.

“We look forward to adequate protection of journalists that will cover the elections, so that we will not have a repeat of molestation of journalists, even after been accredited by INEC.”

The IPC executive director, however, appealed to the media to be above board in covering and reporting the elections.

According to him, no matter the inflammatory remarks by candidates and political parties, the actions of the media should be geared towards helping achieve a credible poll.

“We don’t want a situation whereby we will be blamed in any way for any form of disruption to the electoral process.

“We should recognize that our political party as journalists is journalism,” Arogundade said.

Similarly, Dr Akin Akingbolu, Executive Director, Institute of Media and Society, urged the media to prioritise and amplify issues that affect the media and the freedom of journalists.

“We should amplify the issue that happened in Zamfara, because if not, it will have a ripple effect and trickle down to journalists.

“The mood of authoritarianism and anti transparency among politicians is a conscious effort to prevent the CSOs and the media from knowing what is happening.

“What happened in Zamfara should be amplified and condemned to send a strong message to political actors, so that we have an enabling environment to do our work during the elections,” he said.

Mr Samson Itodo, Executive Director, YIAGA Africa, raised concerns on the effect, the scarcity of fuel and the naira would have on the elections.

He also raised concern on voter migration from one polling unit to another as done by INEC, as well as judgements on electoral matters from the courts.

Mr Jake Epele, Executive Director, Albino Foundation, said that though INEC had done well in terms of inclusivity of people living with disability, he was however concerned about candidates stoking fear on the electorate.

He urged candidates to address issues rather than engaging in mudslinging one another.

In his remarks, Mr Victor Aluko, Director Voter Education, INEC, gave assurance that the commission was ready to conduct credible polls.

He disclosed that necessary materials have been deployed to states, just as the commission had commenced training for personnel for the February and March exercise.

On the migration of voters from one polling unit to another, he said INEC had launched what it called “Operation Know your Polling Unit”, to educate voters on their poling unita.

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Tinubu Assures Investors Nigeria Is Open for Business, Welcomes Coca-Cola’s $1bn Plan

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By Francis Wilfred 

President Bola Tinubu has assured local and international investors that Nigeria remains open for business, saying his administration is implementing reforms aimed at creating a more predictable, competitive and investment-friendly environment.

Speaking through the Secretary to the Government of the Federation (SGF), Senator George Akume, at the 75th anniversary celebration of the Nigerian Bottling Company (NBC) in Abuja on Monday, the President said the government is addressing key challenges facing businesses under the Renewed Hope Agenda.

“Our message to investors, both Nigerian and international, is clear: Nigeria is open for business,” Tinubu said,

He noted that reliable infrastructure, efficient logistics, access to foreign exchange, stable regulations and a supportive tax system are critical to attracting investment and expanding production.

According to Yomi Odunuga, the President said ongoing economic reforms are designed to build a more productive and competitive economy, reduce dependence on imports, strengthen local manufacturing and create jobs for Nigerians.

Tinubu welcomed the Coca-Cola System’s proposed $1 billion investment in Nigeria over five years, announced in 2024, describing it as a strong vote of confidence in the country’s economy. 

He said the administration is focused not only on the volume of investment attracted but also on its impact on employment, skills development, technology transfer and local sourcing.

“We are interested not only in the amount of capital that comes into Nigeria, but in what that capital does here,” he said.

The President also praised NBC’s continued expansion of production capacity, including new production lines in Oyo and Kano states, describing such investments as vital to strengthening Nigeria’s industrial base.

He reaffirmed the government’s commitment to improving policies, infrastructure and regulations to support businesses, while urging the private sector to complement government efforts through investment, innovation and job creation.

Tinubu further highlighted the importance of human capital development, commending NBC’s Supply Chain Academy for training over 1,400 young Nigerians and supporting women’s empowerment and community development initiatives.

He urged investors to take advantage of opportunities across Nigeria, expressing confidence that the country can build a stronger economy driven by local production, exports and globally competitive industries.

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Kano  Governorship: Accord Party Governorship Candidate Gashash Getting More Endorsement From Kano Electorates.

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By Jabiru Hassan.


The movement for Democratic Protection and good governance (MDSG) declared it's full support to the Accord Party Governorship Candidate Ambassador Dr. Mukhtar Gashash in the forthcoming general elections.

In a chat with our correspondent in kano, the national president of the movement, Alhaji Dauda Mohammed Ali,  stated that it is time for the people of kano state to bring new steward who is seriously planning to transform the state with highest regard.

He expressed his confidence that Ambassador Dr Mukhtar Gashash will do his best to ensure that kano state becomes more examplary at both sector without bias which is the task previous administrators failed to achieve.

Alhaji Dauda Mohammed Ali reiterated that " this time around, our movement is working day and night to make sure that Kano people mostly youths remained Committed to actualize real change in the state's politics, leadership and transformation under the Accord Party government".

He called on the people of kano state especially the eligible voters to vote Ambassador Dr Mukhtar Gashash due to his Transformation plans for the progress of kano state and it's citizens at both Urban and rural settlements.

Responding to a question about Accord party's strength in kano state, Dauda Mohammed Ali disclosed that in today's democracy, competent candidates should be tipped for an elective positions not the popularity of the political parties stressing that Ambassador Dr Mukhtar Gashash has been found to be the best option for kano state due to his track record on competency, transparency as a real democrat.
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Caught in the middle: Ortom’s silent dance between two camps.

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There are growing questions about where Mr. Samuel Ortom, a former Governor of Benue State and a prominent figure in the People’s Democratic Party (PDP), truly stands politically ahead of 2027.

Ortom was a key figure in the divisions within the PDP before the 2023 general elections and was widely associated with support for Mr. Peter Obi, who finished third in that contest. More recently, however, he has publicly expressed support for President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s administration.

The latest discussion began after a visit by Mr. Peter Obi to Benue State. Reports indicate that a vehicle said to belong to Ortom was used to receive Obi at the Air Force Base airport in Makurdi. It is not clear who authorized the use of the vehicle, and Ortom has not commented publicly on the matter.

During the same visit, Obi was reportedly prevented from travelling to Yelewata, where he had intended to condole with families affected by violence. Obi’s team attributed the blockage to supporters of Governor Hyacinth Alia.

The Governor’s spokesman, Sir Tersoo Kula, denied any involvement by the Governor. He suggested the incident may have been staged to damage the Governor’s reputation, or that it could have resulted from disagreements within Obi’s own support base.

Ortom has not issued a statement clarifying his position on the 2027 elections or on the vehicle in question. Attempts to reach him were unsuccessful at the time of reporting.

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