Politics

Adequate knowledge of the Electoral Act will aid journalists – INEC

By Web News 505

The Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, wants media professionals in Osun State to study the new electoral act ahead of the July 16th governorship election in the state.

The Commission’s National Commissioner and Chairman, Information and Voter Education Committee, Mr. Festus Okoye stated this at a workshop organised for journalists in Osun State on the new innovation in the conduct of elections and the legal issues surrounding the new electoral act held in Osogbo the state capital.

Mr. Okoye said having adequate knowledge of the electoral act would enable journalists to perform their roles professionally and efficiently.

The INEC National Commissioner who hinted that the new electoral law would be the commission’s guiding principle in the conduct of the Osun State governorship election urged journalists to be fair and objective in their reportage.

While enlightening participants on the Bi-modal Voter Accreditation System, BIVAS, and its usage the INEC Head of Department on ICT/VR, Mrs. Olufunke Toki hinted that BIVAS would prevent sharp practices during the election as it must first recognize both the face and fingerprint of every voter before he or she will be allowed to vote.  

In his remark, the Osun State Chairman of the Nigeria Union of Journalists, NUJ, Mr. Wasiu Ajadosu noted that the workshop would equip journalists with the rudiments of electioneering in line with the new electoral law.

Some of the topics discussed during the workshop were technological innovations by INEC with emphasis on BIVAS and its usage, the electoral Act 2022, and the elections among others.

Abiodun Adeoye

Politics

Electoral Amendment Bill Delay Might Lead To Postponement of 2023 General Election – INEC

By Web News 654

The Independent National Electoral Commission INEC says the delay in the enactment of the electoral amendment bill might lead to the postponement of the February 18 date, slated for the conduct of the 2023 general election.

The National Commissioner, Information and Voter Education Mr. Festus Okoye made this known to newsmen in Asaba, at a Capacity Building Workshop for Heads of Voter Education and Publicity and Public Affairs Officers of INEC from the seventeen states of southern Nigeria.

Oghenero Eghweree reports that the event was the first of a two part series organized to equip participants with electoral communication and media relations techniques.

Oghenero Eghweree

Politics

INEC Headquarters Fire: Our Operations Won’t be Affected – Mr Okoye

By Web News 765

The Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC says the fire that occurred at the commission’s headquarters in Abuja would not affect its operations in any way as nothing significant was destroyed.

INEC’s National Commissioner and Chairman, Information and Voter Education Committee, Mr. Festus Okoye made this known in statement issued in Abuja.

Mr. Okoye explained that the fire broke out around 11:30am at a section of the building housing the Election and Party Monitoring Department and the Media Centre.

He said the fire was quickly contained by the firefighters attached to the commission with the assistance of their colleagues from the Federal Fire Service Headquarters, in the Federal Capital Territory, FCT.

The INEC Official noted that as a result of the quick action of the firefighters, apart from some office equipment and furniture, nothing sensitive was lost to the fire.

He said the reports of party primaries and conventions contained in the annex affected by the fire were intact as well as records of campaign finances.

Mr. Okoye added that investigation into the cause of the fire has commenced with the assurance that the administrative and technical operations of INEC would not be affected in any way by the fire.

Maxwell Oyekunle