From Moshood Olawale Karim
The Saturday’s attack on journalists during the announcement of parallel primary results for the APC’s Edo governorship election at Lushville Hotel in Benin City has raised serious concerns about the safety of journalists and the integrity of democratic practices in Nigeria.
The Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ) in Edo state has issued a stern warning to the All Progressives Congress (APC) and given them a 7-day ultimatum to address the issue.
According to reports, political enforcers allegedly aligned with a gubernatorial candidate stormed the venue and unleashed aggression on electoral officials and journalists. The attack was targeted at journalists present to cover the pivotal moment, resulting in the loss of personal belongings and damage to essential reporting equipment, including cameras and laptops.
In response to these events, Comrade Festus Alenkhe, Chairman of the NUJ in Edo State, at a press conference expressed his deep condemnation of the attack, describing it as odious, abominable, shameful, and utterly unacceptable.
Alenkhe’s words resonate with a broader call to action, emphasizing that journalists should never be subjected to harassment or molestation in their line of duty.
While reading the directives of the national leadership of the union to his members, Alenkhe called on the Commissioner of police in the State to fish out the perpetrators of the barbaric act against his members.
“That the Nigeria Union of Journalists, Edo State council met on the directives of the national leadership and we have resolved as follows, that the NUJ, Edo State council, is fully ready to declare a media war against the All Progressives Congress if the following things are not meant.
“That APC, Edo State is expected to replace all the damaged equipment of Journalists that were covering the event, on the 17 day of February, 2024, pay medical bills of Journalists injured during the attack, apologize to the NUJ at both state and national over the attack where Journalists were being manhandled, and their equipment destroyed, where Journalists were also prevented from carrying out their legitimate duty.
“This, Edo NUJ council described as unacceptable and we condemned this act heavily.
“The Commissioner of Police in Edo State, should help fish out all those who were responsible for the attack and ensure that they are prosecuted because the report says that some of them are very known as they never wore masks
“We want to request very strongly that the management of the hotel where the incident happened, should make available to us the CCTV footage of the incident and this should be made public and also help the police in doing their investigations.
VIDEO: Suspected Thugs Disrupt Edo APC Guber Primary Electionhttps://t.co/JeDWamx2nH
Suspected political thugs have disrupted the ongoing collation of results of the All Progressives Congress (APC) governorship primary election in Edo State. pic.twitter.com/YGqzhcsDCs
— LEADERSHIP NEWS (@LeadershipNGA) February 17, 2024
“We want to also call on the management of the hotel to ensure that this footage will be used by us and also being given to the police where some of those who have carried out that act will be arrested and prosecuted.
“Lastly, we want to say that the Edo State election coming up in September 2024 is not a do-or-die affair. I therefore direct all journalists to cover the news.
“We want to say other parties that want to have their Primaries should ensure adequate security in the various locations, the police, DSS, NSCDC, and other security agencies should ensure the safety of all Journalists”.
The NUJ’s ultimatum to the APC highlights the seriousness of the matter at hand. The attack not only compromised the safety of journalists but also threatened the integrity of democratic processes. It’s unacceptable for political violence to be directed towards journalists who play a critical role in ensuring that the Nigerian public has access to accurate and unbiased information. The incident raises concerns about the safety of journalists and the need for a free and fair democratic process.
