Kwara State chapter of the Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ) has called for safety of journalists and observers assigned for the coverage of today’s local government elections in the state.
In a statement issued in Ilorin yesterday, the state chairman of the union, Abdullateef Ahmed and secretary, Olayinka Alaya, emphasised the critical role journalists play in ensuring transparent and fair polls.
The union urged security personnel deployed for the elections to ensure that journalists who will be monitoring the exercise across the 16 local government areas of the state carry out their duties without fear of harassment or intimidation.
The NUJ cautioned that any form of harassment or intimidation of its members while performing their constitutionally guaranteed duties would not be tolerated.
“As the watchdog of the society, members of the fourth estate of the realm must be accorded their due rights and respect before, during, and after the electoral process.
“Any attack on journalists is an attack on democracy itself”, the union warned.
It called on the Kwara State Independent Electoral Commission (KWASIEC) to maintain an unbiased position throughout the entire process.
