2023: Absence Of Level Playing Field For Oppositions Worries NUJ

The Nigeria Union of Journalists has called on state and federal governments to ensure a level playing field for opposition parties ahead of the 2023 general elections.

This followed alleged attacks and prevention of opposition parties from holding political rallies and placing campaign posters, as well as announcements on public radio stations in some states.

The call was contained in a communique issued after NUJ’s National Executive Council meeting held in Benin, Edo State, dated 11th November, 2023, and signed by Walin Shadalafiya, its national secretary.

The communique read that, “NEC frowns at a situation where state governments make it very difficult or almost impossible for opposition political parties to have seamless campaigns in their states.

“NEC wants all political parties to be given equal opportunities and stresses the need for security agents to put more efforts towards checking incessant attacks during political rallies.”

The union further called for adequate security for journalists during the forthcoming general elections, as well as ‘beefing up security around INEC facilities and media houses ahead of 2023 general elections’.

It commended the collaboration between the National Secretariat, INEC and Centre for Democracy and Development (CDD) towards organising capacity building workshops on 2023 elections and conflict sensitive reporting across the country for journalists with the aim of preparing them better for the onerous task.

On flood ravaging some parts of the country, the union called on the federal government to take proactive measures to mitigate the effects, and urged the government to put in place ecological mechanisms to prevent future flooding and intensify distribution of relief materials.

It also canvassed support for traditional institutions, urging the National Assembly to consider creating constitutional roles for traditional rulers, especially in the fight against insecurity.

If further advised the federal government to declare a state of emergency on federal roads across the nation ‘because of their very bad nature’.