Buying PVCs, waste of time - INEC tells politicians

The National Commissioner for Independent National Electoral Commission, Festus Okoye, on Wednesday, said any politician engaging in buying Permanent Voters Cards ahead of next year’s elections is doing so in futility.

He made this known at a capacity building workshop for journalists, tagged: “Conflict-Sensitive Reporting and 2023 General Election” sponsored by INEC and facilitated by NUJ National Secretariat, held at NUJ Press Centre, Ibadan.

Represented by INEC Deputy Director on Voter Education and Gender, Ndidi Okafor, Okoye said nothing would deny the right of any registered voter to exercise his or her franchise on the day of election.

Also speaking, the Oyo State Resident Electoral Commissioner, Adeniran Tella, said the commission would always be up to the task to attend to everything that falls within the ambit of its mandates as enshrined in the nation’s constitution.

Tella, whose message was delivered by the administrative secretary, Alhaji Abiodun Amosun-Onikate, however, said the media has a big role to play in keeping the citizens abreast of what is happening around them.

“Journalists are expected to have thorough understanding of all issues pertaining to elections, so as to help them convey details to citizens in simple and clear terms aimed at deepening democratic dividends.

“It is my prayer that our efforts and your inputs shall work for the development of our democracy and entrench good governance in our country.”

The NUJ National President, Chief Chris Isiguzo, who was represented by NUJ National Trustee member, Mrs. Abimbola Oyetunde, said, “Journalists in Nigeria should work toward the advancement of the right of freedom of expression, access to information, freedom of the press, media independence, conflict transformation and peace building.

“The pursuit of truth and public good must be the cornerstone of journalism practice in Nigeria, if journalists will properly advance public interests, earn public trust and be watchdogs of the society.”