Nation
INEC Seeks Media Support For Peaceful Imo Guber
The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has sought the support of the media for a peaceful conduct of the November 11 governorship election in Imo State.
The National Commissioner and Member, Information and Voter Education Committee (IVEC), Mohammed Haruna, made the call at an engagement with media executives in Owerri, ahead of the poll.
“The Media remains one of our critical stakeholders. In reporting activities of the commission, pre-election, election, and post-election activities, we plead with the media to be factual, objective, and professional in their reportage”, Haruna said.
The National Commissioner urged the media, as citizens, “to be part of the discussion for the overall improvement of our electoral process based on your field observations”.
He disclosed that the commission had implemented eight of the 13 schedule of activities published for the conduct of governorship elections in Kogi, Bayelsa and Imo States.
“We are now entering the period of submission of names of polling agents by political parties, publication of official register of voters by the commission and the notice of poll.
“The last two activities are closing of campaign by political parties and the climax, which is the elections day proper”, he said.
Haruna disclosed that all non-sensitive materials had been delivered to the three states in required quantities and good quality.
“The production of sensitive materials has been completed and ready for delivery to the three states while the Registration Area Center (RAC) and Collation Center assessment is completed.
“We are seeking the support of the media to create and promote awareness of the PVC collection exercise to boost the number of eligible Nigerians who will come out and vote on election day”, he stressed.
He said the commission had provided braille ballot for visually impaired voters, made available magnifying glass for people with albinism and introduced enlarged posters for voters with hearing impairment.
He said the commission had gone further to integrate into the voting procedure, a process that accorded priority voting for persons with disabilities, vulnerable people like the elderly, pregnant and nursing mothers.
Haruna, who also expressed concern over violence during campaigns in Kogi and Imo, appealed to politicians to allow peace to prevail.
He also assured voters that the commission would not have glitches with the Bimodal Voter Accreditation System (BVAS) during the governorship poll.
Earlier, the Resident Electoral Commissioner (REC) for Imo, Prof. Sylvia Agu, said the engagement was packaged to enlighten media executives on the guidelines, processes and procedures ahead of the governorship election.
“The commission holds the media in high esteem as great partners in progress, and has therefore packaged this program to enhance the awareness and participation of voters in the state.
“In telling of stories, I urge you all to emphasise the gains of participation and the need to protect our democracy”, Agu said.
In his remarks, the State Chairman of the Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ), Mr Ifeanyi Nwanguma, said the media would continue to support INEC to ensure free, fair and credible Imo governorship election.
Nwanguma, however, appealed to security agencies to see journalists as partners in progress during and after the governorship election in the state.
“I strongly believe that together, we can achieve violence-free and credible governorship election come November 11”, he stated.
The Chairman of the Osun State Park Management System (OSTMS), Comrade Nurudeen Iyanda Alowonle, was reportedly shot by officers of the state police command in the late hours of Monday.
The union, in a statement issued by its Secretary, Mikaela Popoola, in Osogbo, confirmed that its chairman was arrested over domestic issues and taken into police custody.
According to him, the shooting of the chairman occurred while in police custody, and the circumstances surrounding the shooting call for a thorough investigation.
The union scribe, who reiterated that the chairman was arrested over domestic issues and taken into police custody, called on members of OSTMS not to take the law into their own hands.
He stressed, “We must maintain peace across the parks while we take the matter up with the appropriate authorities.”
While confirming the shooting, a top Police officer, who preferred to remain anonymous, said, “Alowonle was arrested in connection with the alleged killing of one Oyewale in 2022 and the assault of some residents on Monday night.
“He was shot while attempting to escape and has been taken to a hospital for treatment.”
According to him, Alowonle was maimed by the police gunshot, and a Hummer bus with registration number AWK 480YD, an unregistered Nissan Almera, and a Toyota Sienna with registration number GNN 595 XD were also recovered from him.
“During the arrest, a Barrett pistol, six rounds of 9mm live ammunition, and one expended empty shell were recovered from Alowonle’s private unregistered Toyota Highlander jeep,” the officer said.
“Alowonle and his boys conveyed themselves in a Previn bus with registration number RBC 275XK, but a distress call to the police led to his arrest. He was rearrested at Susi area of Oke-Baale, Osogbo, alongside eight others before being taken to the state police command.”
Meanwhile, all possible efforts made to reach the spokesperson for the state Police Command, Mrs Yemisi Opalola, for comment on the incident proved abortive as calls put to her mobile phone were not answered.
The Rivers State Police Command has announced that its operatives neutralised a suspected kidnapper and cultist, identified as Gbarani Bume, in the Luawii Community of Khana Local Government Area (LGA).
Bume, also known as Pelele, was a member of the infamous Iceland cult group, which has been terrorising the Beree/Tabaa axis of Khana LGA along with his gang.
Spokesperson for the State Police Command, Grace Iringe-Koko, disclosed this in a statement issued in Port Harcourt on Sunday.
Iringe-Koko said that Pelele and his gang attempted to kidnap a site engineer working in Luawii when the police, acting on a tip-off, swooped in. Upon sighting the police, the suspects opened fire, but Pelele was fatally wounded after a fierce exchange of gunfire and later died.
The statement reads: “The Rivers State Police Command has made a significant breakthrough in its efforts to combat crime, neutralising a notorious cultist and kidnapper, Gbarani Bume, a.k.a. Pelele, a native of Bere Community in Khana LGA.
“He was a member of the Iceland Cult Group, which has been terrorising the Beree/Tabaa axis of Khana LGA.
“On the 15th of November 2024, operatives from the Bori Division, acting on a tip-off, were mobilised to Luawii Community where Pelele and his gang were attempting to kidnap a site engineer.
“Upon sighting the operatives, the hoodlums opened fire, resulting in a fierce crossfire, during which Pelele was fatally wounded. His accomplices escaped with various degrees of bullet wounds.
“Items recovered from the suspect include one AK-47 rifle, two magazines, and 10 rounds of live ammunition.”
She added, “An investigation is ongoing, and efforts are being intensified to apprehend the other fleeing gang members and bring them to justice.”
The state police spokesperson stated that this operation underscores the Command’s commitment to tackling crime and ensuring public safety in the state.