Tag: ELECTIONS

Election: Clerics, NUJ caution Journalists against sensationalism, devisive reportage

Abdul-Azeez Ahmed Kadir
Stakeholders at NUJ conference in Makurdi

Rev. Fr Patrick Alumuku, Director of Communication, Catholic Archdiocese of Abuja, has urged media practitioners to shun sensational reportage that would compromise security before, during and after the general elections. Alumuku made the appeal at a zonal conference organised by Zone D of the Nigerian Union of Journalists (NUJ), on Thursday in Makurdi. The conference was on The Role of the Media in enhancing peaceful election and democratic participation. Alumuku who is also the Director Catholic Television of Nigeria, said the call was imperative in view of the nexus between…

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Elections; NGO tells political parties to Focus on issue-based campaign

Abdul-Azeez Ahmed Kadir

The Kimpact Development Initiative (KDI), a non-governmental organisation, has called on political parties and their candidates to focus on issue-based campaigns and not attack the personality of their fellow contestants. Bukola Idowu, Team Lead, KDI, made the call at first High-Level National Dialogue on Mitigating Electoral Violence ahead of the 2023 General Elections, in Abuja. The event had in attendance representatives from the NOA, Civil Defence, DSS, among others. He said that political candidates and their parties should desist from making inciteful messages, as their actions and inactions speaks a…

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INEC commences ad-hoc staff screening

Abdul-Azeez Ahmed Kadir

The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), has commenced ad-hoc staff screening in three senatorial zones of Enugu State, ahead of the general elections. INEC had fixed February 25, for Presidential and National Assembly elections, as well as March 11, for the governorship and state House of Assembly elections. The INEC Resident Electoral Commissioner REC, in Enugu State, Dr Chukwuemeka Chukwu, said on Friday, that the screening was currently ongoing in the three senatorial zones simultaneously. According to Chukwu, the exercise will run for four days; starting Jan. 19 to end…

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2023: ‘Nigerians worried elections may be inconclusive, violent’ Gen. AbdulSalami

Aminu Imam

The Chairman of the National Peace Accords Committee, General AbdulSalami Abubakar (rtd), has revealed that Nigerians are highly disturbed, and are entertaining the fear that the forthcoming general elections may be marred by violence. General Abubakar, represented, by the Head of the Secretariat, Peace Accords Committee, Reverend Father, Attah Barkindo, during the signing of the peace accord by eight gubernatorial candidates, disclosed that there was palpable fear amongst citizens which should be doused by the relevant agencies, hence the need for Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC)and other security agencies to…

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Yobe North: Again Lawan Loses as Appeal court affirms Machina APC senatorial candidate

Abdul-Azeez Ahmed Kadir

The Court of Appeal, on Monday affirmed Bashir Machina as the authentic All Progressives Congress (APC) senatorial candidate for Yobe North. The appellate court, in a judgment delivered by a three-member panel led by President of the Court, Justice Monica Dongban-Mensen, dismissed Senate President Ahmed Lawans appeal as lacking in merit. Lawan, filed an appeal challenging the decision of Justice Fadimatu Aminu of the Federal High Court Damaturu. Aminu had on Sept. 28, 2022, declared Machina as winner of the primary election organised by the APC in May 2022, while Lawan…

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El-Rufai heads Kaduna APC Campaign Council with 989 members, 22 Directorates

Abdul-Azeez Ahmed Kadir
Governor Nasiru el-Rufai of Kaduna State

Kaduna State Governor Nasir Ahmad el-Rufai of Kaduna has ermerged as the chairman of the state Campaign Council with nine hundred and eighty nine (989) members and twenty two (22) directorates.  The Campaign council also have Senator Uba Sani; the state party gubernatorial candidate, his running mate and incumbent Deputy Governor Hadiza Sabuwa Balarabe as Deputy Chairmen 1 and 2 respectively. The Council with 22 Directorates and 989 members, has Air Commodore Emmanuel K. Jakada (rtd), the State Chairman of APC, as Vice Chairman 1 while RT Hon Yusuf Ibrahim…

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2023: UN backs INEC to conduct credible elections

Abdul-Azeez Ahmed Kadir
Cross-section of officials of United Nations-Development Programme UNDP and INEC during training of INECs Heads of Departments in South South and South East held in Port Harcourt on Friday

The United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) says it is collaborating with the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to conduct free, fair and credible elections in 2023. Matthew Alao, UNDP Team Lead, Governance, Peace and Security, disclosed this at the opening of a two-day training organised by the UN body in Port Harcourt on Friday.  Alao said that UNDP collaborated with INECs Election Monitoring Support Centre (EMSC) to train its Head of Departments (HODs) in South South and South East for successful conduct of the elections. According to him, the successful…

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Fake news bigger threat to democracy than gun Jonathan

Abdul-Azeez Ahmed Kadir
Former President Goodluck Jonathan

Former President Goodluck Jonathan says the biggest threat to democracy is no longer the gun, but propaganda, fake news and disinformation. Jonathan stated this in Abuja at the Goodluck Jonathan Foundation 2022 Peace Conference with the theme, Nation Building: The Role of Peaceful Elections in a Multi-Ethnic Context. Jonathan urged young Nigerians to embrace good conduct rather than hate speech, saying those advocating for violence and orchestrating fake news were the big threats to democracy. We must discourage this issue of hate speech and propaganda that are going on because…

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2023: Media fairness not totally achievable – Expert

Abdul-Azeez Ahmed Kadir

Dr Saeedat Aliyu, the Acting Director, University Relations, Kwara State University (KWASU), Malete, has advised journalists to exhibit high degree of fairness in the coverage of the 2023 general elections. She however noted that media fairness was not totally achievable because of obvious reasons. Aliyu gave the advice on Wednesday at the grand finale of the 2022 Press Week of the Kwara TV Chapel of the Kwara Council of Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ) in Ilorin. Aliyu, who spoke on the theme: Press Freedom: A panacea for sustainable democratic process,…

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2023: PWDs can decide who becomes Nigerian President

Abdul-Azeez Ahmed Kadir

The Albino Foundation on Wednesday called on politicians not to neglect Persons with Disabilities (PWDs) as campaign begins because their number can make or mare election victory. The Chief Executive Officer and Founder of the foundation,       Jake Epelle said this at a news conference to call for the inclusion of PWD as campaigns commence by political parties in Abuja. Epelle said that the conference was necessary to alert the nation on the issues bordering on PWDs. According to him, the exclusion of any group or persons in democratic process is…

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