- DSIEC Driven By Integrity, Says Agbaike
BY PATRICK MGBODO
All political parties involved in the July 13, 2024 local government elections in Delta State would make a commitment to set aside their differences and sign a peace accord to ensure peaceful and orderly polls.
The Chairman of the Delta State Independent Electoral Commission (DSIEC), Sir (Dr.) Jerry Agbaike disclosed this at a one-day capacity-building workshop for journalists, organized in conjunction with the Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ), Delta State Council.
While briefing journalists on the preparedness of the umpire for the elections, Sir Agbaike also said that the peace accord initiated by DSIEC would involve the 10 political parties registered for the local government elections and their candidates.
According to him, ‘’On our part as a commission, DSIEC is driven by the strong ethics of equity, justice, fairness and integrity as impartial arbiters to deliver on its mandate to conduct a free, fair, transparent, credible and peaceful Local Government elections on July 13 2024. ‘’DSIEC has initiated a peace accord to be signed by the chairmen of the 10 participating political parties, chairmanship candidates and law enforcement agencies in the state (Police, Department of State Services, Nigeria Security and Civil Defense Corps) scheduled for July 8 2024’’ he said. Earlier, the state council chairman of the NUJ, Comrade Churchill Oyowe said that the workshop’s theme ‘’Making a successful electoral process through effective coverage and reportage’’ is timely and crucial ahead of another Local Government election.
‘’Our responsibility in covering elections goes beyond mere reporting. It involves educating the public, providing accurate and unbiased information and holding all stakeholders accountable. This workshop aims to equip us (journalists) with the necessary skills and knowledge to perform these duties effectively.
Comrade Oyowe and the state Chairman of the Nigerian Association of Women Journalists (NAWOJ), Comrade Stella Unobunjo, commended DSIEC for its commitment to ensuring transparent and credible Local Government elections, just as they urged journalists/participants to take advantage of the workshop for a successful electoral process. During the seminar, journalists were trained on the laws and processes guiding election coverage and reporting, and evolving trends in Local Government elections, hazards, pitfalls and challenges by Prof Godwin Oboh of the Benson Idahosa University (BIU).
