Governor Hope Uzodinma, fielding questions from Journalists at the NGE conference in Owerri.
By Goodluck Ikiebe in Owerri.
Members of the Nigerian Guild of Editors(NGE) on Thursday,began their three-day annual conference in Owerri, Imo State with the Governor, Senator Hope Uzodinma, assuring Nigerians of credible Electoral process and outcome in 2023 general elections.
Governor Uzodinma gave the assurance while declaring open the 18th All Nigeria Editors Conference, ANEC, 2022 in Owerri, the state Capital.
He, however,stated that the security agencies and Media had critical role to play in ensuring a credible, fair and peaceful electoral processes.
“With your pen, you can make 2023 elections a success or failure,either by helping to heat up the polity or manage factual electoral reports.
The Governor, therefore urged Editors to manage the facts towards achieving positive overall goal of the nation.
“Don’t publish unofficial results until it is released officially by the electoral umpire, the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, otherwise, it’s an invitation to anarchy”, he added.
Earlier in his speech, the President, Nigerian Guild of Editors, Mustapha Isah, said the theme, 2023: Political Landscape, Credible Elections and Role of Editors”, was carefully chosen as the top for the conference in view of the forthcoming 2023 general elections.
“As Journalists, we cannot afford to shy away from interrogating our present political landscape and preparations for the elections, considering the fact that we played a great role in the enthronement of the current democratic dispensation.
“It’s in our enlightened self interest to help nurture the baby we made enormous sacrifices to midwife”, Mustapha explained.
He stated that the conference would examine all aspects of the 2023 elections, including the activities of the Independent National Electoral Commission, Security before, during and after the polls, as well as the role of election observers.
“The most effective way to sustain the people’s interest in democracy is the conduct of free, fair and credible elections”.
Isah noted that this partly explained why the media outfits were in the forefront in the campaign for the passage of the Electoral Act, 2022.
“It is our hope that substantial compliance with the law will lead to credible elections.
“We are aware that most of our politicians are desperate and can do anything to circumvent the system just to win.
“It’s our duty, as Editors,to expose anti-democratic elements planning to ensure that the people’s will doesn’t prevail,” he advised.
The Guild President paid tribute to some members who died within the last conference.
Our Correspondent reports that over 400 Editors from Print, Electronic and Online Media are attending the conference in Imo state, the first to be hosted in the South East.
Other programmes lined up include:executive session, Project Tour, Gala Nite and induction of new Members and Fellows.
Edited by Dada Ahmed.
