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2023: INEC, NUJ collaborate on election, conflict-sensitive reporting
2023: INEC, NUJ collaborate on election, conflict-sensitive reporting
The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) in collaboration with the Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ) has trained Northwest Journalists on conflict-sensitive reporting ahead of 2023 general election.
Speaking at the workshop on Wednesday in Kano, the National Commissioner and Chairman Information and Voter Education INEC, Festus Okoye, said the media is a critical stakeholder in political processes.
Okoye, represented by Mr Samuel Bassey, Deputy Director, Gender and Inclusive INEC, said the one -day capacity building on “Conflict- Sensitive reporting and 2023 General Election for Northwest Journalists” was enhance participants’ skills and professionalism.
According to him, the role of media in electoral process include publishing information, carry out voter education and availing critical stakeholders with timely and relevant information on the electoral process among others.
He pointed out that reporting election requires special skills and understanding of the centrality of Nigeria’s survival as a Federal democracy as well as avoiding false reports that may trigger a breakdown of law and order.
Okoye called on the media to avoid deliberate falsehood aimed at drawing traffic to sites, especially online media.
“The media must have basic understanding and a working knowledge of constitutional, legal and regulating instrument as the Constitution has gone through several amendment on new Electoral act,” he said.
He explained that INEC would continue to partner the media not only as key stakeholders in the electoral process but also as a viable tool for combating fake news, misinformation and malicious falsehood.
Earlier, the NUJ National President, Mr Chris Isiguzo, said the role of media was not only to monitor government but to make government accountable as well as help the populace to participate in the process of governance and development.
Isiguzo, who was represented by Deputy President NUJ North West Zone, Alhassan Nayaya, said the training was to avail journalists the opportunity to brainstorm ahead of the 2023 elections.
“Our role as journalists is to facilitate easy access to information that will enhance participation in governance,” he said.
He called on journalists to avoid relying on social media handles of personality as sources of their news reportage but subscribe to reputable media https://newsng.ng/tweet-against-mrs-buhari-aminu-should-have-been-taken-to-court-not-tortured-dr-danjuma/organisations.
The state commissioner for Information, Malam Muhammad Garba, said Journalists were partners in progress especially when it comes to the issue of democracy.
“Journalists need to be educated because INEC has initiated quite a number of programmes and policies on changes in electoral process.
“We need the media as much as possible to educate and sensitize Nigerians on the issue of election,” he said.
Alhaji Abdullahi Yusuf, Former Deputy Editor in Chief, News Agency of Nigeria, (NAN), who presented a paper titled “the Role of Media and 2023 General Election” said that the media has been playing significant role in shaping issues and influencing events in the polity.
He said that media professionals needed continuous training and retraining to boost their capacity for optimum performance, especially in their reportage of political activities and events.
Yusuf also urged reporters and producers covering the elections to write factual, accurate, objective reports in good and appropriate language.
2023: INEC, NUJ collaborate on election, conflict-sensitive reporting
Unidentified visitor dies suddenly at Niger Government House Lodge
By: Zagazola Makama
The Niger State Police Command has confirmed the sudden death of an unidentified man who collapsed and died at Government House Lodge, Minna. Zagazola learnt that the incident occurred on Friday, Aug. 2, 2025.
Sources said that the deceased had visited House No. 8, Government House Lodge, in an attempt to see Mr. Sammy, Chairman of Niger Foods. However, upon meeting his host’s absence, the man suddenly took ill.
Medical doctors were reportedly contacted from the IBB Specialist Hospital, Minna, for urgent attention. Unfortunately, by the time the doctor arrived, the man had already passed away.
Following the report, a team of police operatives from GRA Division visited the scene. The body was photographed and evacuated to the IBB Specialist Hospital Mortuary for autopsy to determine the exact cause of death.
Unidentified visitor dies suddenly at Niger Government House Lodge
Bauchi Guber: Sen Buba accepts calls by Bauchi North APC members to contest in 2027
By Amina Ahmed Dankawuwa
The Senator representing Bauchi South at the national assembly, Senator Shehu Buba Umar has accepted the calls by the members of the All Progressives Congress (APC) Bauchi North Senatorial District to contest for Governorship come 2027.
The Director General of the campaign for the actualisation of Sen Buba’s Gubernatorial ambition, Alhaji Muhammad Sade (Usman) accepted the calls on behalf of the Senator during a town hall meeting held on Saturday by the members of the All Progressives Congress (APC) Bauchi North Senatorial in Azare.
He appealed to members of APC to maintain peace with all other aspirants within the party.
“Let’s respect other aspirants, such that anybody who win the primary election can have will be assisted by others, so we must value and respect each other”, he reasoned.
Muhammad Sade also called on party members to commence looking for delegates for ahead of the party primaries.
“It is now that we have to look for those that have votes. I call on our esteemed supporters to start mobilizing for delegate”, he emphasized.
He also advised social media handlers (citizens journalist) to avoid creating problems for personal gain, adding that social media some times create a lot of problem within and out side the party endorsed Senator representing Bauchi South, Senator Shehu Buba Umar for Bauchi Governor come 2027.
Baushe Daily Times reports that members of the APC gathered in thousands during the meeting in Azare during which they unanimously agreed to support Senator Shehu Buba for Governor come 2027.
Earlier in a welcoming address, former majority leader in the Bauchi state house of assembly, Hon Tijjani Mohammed Aliyu, the choice to support Sen Shehu buba Umar’s Governorship ambition was due to his concern and care he has for the people of Bauchi state.
“He respects us, he values our people politically and he also call on party members to respect each other because politics shouldn’t be considered as a do or die affair”, he said.
Also speaking, Alhaji Bashir Bukar Rimin Zayam charged the youth to cast their votes for the youth only and avoid voting older politicians who will always be going abroad for medical attention.
He therefore, appealed to members of APC to mobilised people to support Sen Shehu Buba for Governor.
Among those who attended the town hall meeting include state assembly member Azare/Madangala Hon Zakariyya sale maigero, comr sabo Mohammed S A to Sen Shehu Buba on media and communication, Hon kasuwa Shehu Damana, Hon Adamu Fanta Misau, Hon maiwada Misau,Hon Mohammed Hassan, Barr Muktar Umar, Alhaji Nura Adamu among others.
Bauchi Guber: Sen Buba accepts calls by Bauchi North APC members to contest in 2027
NHRC: Closure of Badeggi Radio, A Suppression of Press Freedom, Affront to Democracy
By: Michael Mike
The National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) has condemned in strong terms the closure of Badeggi Radio in Niger State by the State Governor Mohammed Bago, discribing it as not only a suppression of press freedom but an affront to democracy.
The Executive Secretary of the Commission Dr Tony Ojukwu, condemned the action while reacting to the ugly incident. He said the governor’s decision to shut down the radio station without following due process is disappointing and a clear violation of the right to freedom of expression, as guaranteed by Section 39 of the 1999 Constitution and Article 9 of the African Charter on Human and Peoples’ Rights.
Ojukwu noted that the consequences of suppressing press freedom are far-reaching and can lead to increased government opacity, reduced citizen participation, creat obstacles to accountability, and weakening of democratic institutions.
He said: “The arbitrary shutdown of media outlets undermines the checks and balances essential to a functioning democracy.”
He called on Governor Bago to immediately unseal the Radio Station and allow it to resume full operations, asking him to channel issues concerning any alleged unconstitutional operations of the Radio Station to the appropriate authority and not act with impunity.
He said: “This is both a moral imperative and a democratic requirement.”
Ojukwu who is also the president of the Network of National Human Rights Institutions in West Africa ( NNHRI-WA) urged the governments to protect journalists and media freedom, foster a culture of tolerance, and support independent media. “Journalists must be able to operate without fear of harassment, intimidation, or violence,” He emphasized.
He lamented that the media has severally come under attack in various forms, a situation he termed as unacceptable in a civilized society.
He called on the Nigerian Broadcasting Commission (NBC) to be firm in carrying out its Statutory mandate which must not be abused at any slight opportunity.
He used the opportunity to ask media practitioners to be professional at all times in order to prevent needless censorship by political office holders.
He also called on Nigerian Guild of Editors to provide professional guidance at regular intervals as this will curb the use of hate speech, fake news and other unprofessional conducts capable of adversely affecting the media houses.
He insisted that the Commission remains committed to promoting and protecting human rights in Nigeria and would continue to monitor the situation closely.
NHRC: Closure of Badeggi Radio, A Suppression of Press Freedom, Affront to Democracy
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