By Joy Odigie

The Institute for Media and Society (IMS), has urged the media to improve its focus on the reportage of inclusiveness in the forthcoming general elections.

Dr Akin Akingbulu. Executive Director, IMS, made the call during a two-day workshop on Sharing on Good Practices and Trends on Inclusive Coverage of the Electoral Process for media practitioners, held in Abuja on Monday.

Akingbulu said it was worrisome that the media, according to a recent report on media coverage on Inclusive electoral process, didn’t really do well.

He said the workshop was aimed at refocusing the media to give quality attention to inclusive participation in the 2023 electoral process.

“The European Union (EU) media support seeks to achieve a media providing a fair, accurate, professional, ethical and inclusive coverage of the electtoral process.

“The focus of the marginalised group in the election process include women, youths and Persons with Disabilities”.

He urged participants at the workshop to work toward providing outcomes that would bridge the gap in Inclusive coverage for the electoral process.

Earier, Mr Timothy Bamidele, the Programme Manager IMS, said the EU SDGN project 11, was to foster a friendly and all participatory democratic process in the country.

Bamidele said the EU SDGN project for media support was to address the challenges media practitioners face during the coverage and reportage of inclusiveness during the electoral process.

According to him, IMS in a bid to promote inclusiveness in the electoral reportage, has empowered 60 women journalists with digital storytelling skills.

Also speaking, Prof. Abigail Ogwezzy-Ndisika, lecturer, Department of Mass Communication, University of Lagos, said there was the need to deepen professionalism in the coverage of the under-served.

Ogwezzy-Ndisik, said there was the need to identify the gaps and trends as well as address them as it relates to inclusive electoral process.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN), reports that the workshop was organised by IMS in collaboration with the Support-to-Media Component of the European Union Support to Democratic Governance in Nigeria (EU SDGN II) Project. (NAN) (www.nannews.ng)

Edited by Ese E. Eniola Williams

By Akeem Abas

Sen. Teslim Folarin, the All Progressives Congress (APC) Governorship candidate in Oyo State, says Bola Tinubu, the party’s Presidential candidate, will engender

brilliant and sustainable masses-friendly policies, if elected.

Folarin made this known on Tuesday in a statement by Alhaji Kehinde Olaosebikan, the Chairman, Media and Publicity for the Presidential Campaign Council in the state.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that Folarin, a former Senate Leader and Asaaju Olubadan of Ibadanland, is the APC-PCC Coordinator in the state.

Folarin had explained that the presidential rally scheduled to hold in Ibadan on Tuesday, Feb. 7, was postponed in solidarity with the masses over scarcity of naira notes and fuel.

He said Tinubu was eager to be in Ibadan for the rally, assuring the people that he would soon visit the state for the presidential rally.

The candidate said: “People had been subjected to unwarranted sufferings as a result of the horrendous scarcity of naira notes and fuel.

“Tinubu is the greatest and most compassionate leader in Nigeria today. He would always put the interest of the masses first in all his policies and actions as the President of Nigeria.”

Folarin, also said that Tinubu would implement brilliant and sustainable masses-friendly policies and programmes that would guarantee better life for Nigerians.

He thanked the people for the loving concern shown over postponement of the rally, assuring them that Tinubu would be in Ibadan very soon.

The governorship candidate said that the enthusiasm shown to receive Tinubu in Ibadan and the eventual affectionate concern expressed by the people since the announcement of the postponement was massive.

Folarin said that all these have confirmed their love for Tinubu and their determination to vote for him enmasse on Feb. 25.

Also, Dr Isiaka Kolawole, the Director-General of APC Presidential and Governorship campaigns in the state, said that the postponement would not affect the quality of the rally whenever it takes place.

Kolawole said that the campaign council had concluded all arrangements for a grand rally with the stage and all other necessary equipment put in place.

“As I promised when I addressed the press on our preparations on Sunday, we are determined to make the rally the best in all ramifications.

“It is going to be grand, classy and groovy. We are the pacesetters, we are setting a new pace with the rally and you will all see it when it happens. The postponement would not limit us,” he said.(NAN)

Edited by Olagoke Olatoye

From left Gov. Okezie Ikpeazu of Abia State, Queen Jodie Frank, founder JACCO Charity International, an NGO and Rev Osadolor, member of the NGO

By Femi Ogunshola

The Governor of Abia, Mr Okezie Ikpeazu, has endorsed the call for violence-free campaign across the six geopolitical zones of the country by JACCO Charity International (JCI), a Non-Governmental Organisation (NGO).

Jodie Frank, the founder of the NGO said this in a statement in Abuja on Monday.

She said the group visited the governor to seek his endorsement since the campaign would be kick starting in Abia.

The governor, however, said that the vote of every Nigerian should count during elections, adding that no vote is worth the blood of any Nigerian.

He commended the NGO for taking the initiative and choosing his state as the first point of call, adding that he would be ready to support the group to ensure a successful violence-free campaign.

The group, however, presented a T-shirt with the inscription “Your Vote Counts” to the governor.

On her part, Frank said the the reason for the campaign was to ensure that the youth who constitute the bulk of voters do not engage in violence before, during and after the election.

According to her, “we want to ensure that Nigerian votes count, we want a better Nigeria and our vote will be the bedrock for a better country.”

She urged political parties, their candidates and supporters to play by the rule and embrace the spirit of sportsmanship after the election.

She called on Nigerians not to toe the path of violence whatever the outcome of the election is, adding that Nigerians should embrace peace for the sake of unity. (NAN) (www.nannews.ng)

Edited by Vincent Obi

By Stellamaris Ashinze

The Managing Director of New Horizons, Mr Tim Akano, has called on the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to urgently upgrade the Bimodal Voter Accreditation System (BVAS) ahead of the forthcoming polls.

Akano, who heads the computer training firm, made the call on Saturday in Lagos at the celebration of the World Data Privacy Day organised by Data and Knowledge Information Privacy Protection Initiative (DKIPPI).

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the theme of the celebrations is “Understanding Privacy and Online Risk in Digital World Today”.

He said that regardless of the performance of BVAS in the next three weeks, there was a need for an urgent upgrade against the background of the over-voting recorded in the recent Osun governorship election.

According to Akano, 2023 World Data Privacy Day celebration could not have come at a better time.

“This will be the first time in the history of elections in Nigeria that the country would rely on wholesale technology to choose its next president.

“Will BVAS lead to a breakthrough or a breakdown of Nigeria even though BVAS end -to-end encryption security offers more than a kilogramme of comfort and confidence?

“It is good and helpful nonetheless and it is in the best interest of INEC in particular and Nigeria in general to pay more than a casual attention to what we call Man -in-the -Middle attack or a replay attack which dark hackers can exploit to intercept, modify and retransmit the election data while in motion or transit,” he pointed out.

Akano said that more importantly, transmitting sensitive data using the GSM technology which BVAS depended on was not as water-tight as using the satellite technology.

He said that a reconfigured BVAS 2.0 would definitely be capable of identifying and automatically eliminating cases of over-voting from the source polling units using certain Artificial Intelligence technology.

He said that it would thereby save INEC from avoidable embarrassment of having to harmonise their data, as it happened in Osun with three results in one election.

According to him, time is no more for the implementation of this reconfiguration before the Feb. 23 presidential election but suffice to say that the technology to arrest over-voting by BVAS exists today.

“If the F-35 American fighter jet, the most sophisticated fighter jet in the world, can be hacked, BVAS is not absolute,” he said.

He, however, described data security privacy as a strong iron steel installed on the window to prevent theft which should be embraced by individuals and organisations.

In his address, the Convener, Mr Tokunbo Smith, expressed excitement because many government institutions, corporate bodies and professional bodies have joined in celebrating the World Data Privacy Day.

He said that DKIPPI had contributed and was still contributing to the development of Data Privacy and Protection in Nigeria.

Smith said that the desire of the initiative to create awareness on data privacy and educate the public on the importance of data privacy was already yielding positive results.

NAN reports that the highlight of the event was the presentation of awards to some individuals. (NAN)(www.nannews.ng)

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Kingsley Kubeyinje

By Kingsley Okoye

Deputy Chief Whip of the Senate, Sen. Sabi Abdullahi has urged Nigerians, especially members of the All Progressives Congress (APC) to keep faith with the party and avoid activities capable of undermining its advancement.

Abdullahi, representing Niger-North Senatorial District, made the call in Abuja during an interactive session with newsmen.

He was responding to a question on alleged activities targeted against the campaign of the APC presidential candidate, Bola Tinubu.

“But one thing I know for sure is that in politics, it is not impossible for some people to be unhappy.

“They might have a different opinion or idea on what should be within the context of the local politics .

“It is not impossible for some people to be angry but one thing I will say is that I will depend on what is on the surface, some people might be unhappy, it is not out of place.

“But what is important is that this is our ship, we built it and it will be a disservice if we destroy it,” Abdullahi said.

The law maker said it would be in the collective interest of the party to consolidate on what it has achieved in the past years.

“By my own tradition and upbringing, if I stick to something, I stick to it in good and in bad.

“I have always been a progressive all my life, I believe in my party, I am a progressive in heart and in doing.

“I want to advise all APC members to keep faith with the progressive fold and let’s continue to do progressive things for our country.

”And come the general elections, we are hopeful that we will get the mandate and when we get it, more progressive things will come to Nigeria,” Abdullahi said. (NAN)(www.nannews.ng)

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Edited by Yinusa Ishola/Idris Abdulrahman

By Kingsley Okoye

Sen. Sabi Abdullahi, representing Niger-North Senatorial District, has urged citizens to vote Bola Tinubu, the APC Presidential Candidate, following his sterling performances and contributions to the country’s democracy.

Abdullahi, also the Deputy Chief Whip of the Senate, made the call at an interactive session with newsmen in Abuja on Sunday.

He said beyond Tinubu’s provision of quality infrastructure and other services, as Governor of Lagos State, he had been at the forefront, fighting for restoration of democracy in the country.

He said the presidential candidate had stood against attempts to emasculate the political space.

“He is a man who has a sense of accommodation, tolerance and he is somebody who believes that democracy is what we must promote for the common good.

“Beyond what he has done while in power, you need to also look at what he has done outside power to ensure that the democratic space continue to be expanded.

”I think he has done tremendously well,” the senator said.

He said that the late Royal Father of Borgu Kingdom had described and testified that Tinubu was a truthful man, bold and courageous in advancing his course when they both served in the Senate.

Abdullahi said that Project 774, an APC support group, with members across the states of the federation and the FCT, was working to get people to understand what Tinubu’s candidacy was all about.

“And what we said clearly here is, very simple, that this man has done it yesterday, he has shown capacity.

“And so for us, we believe that should be our selling point about the candidate.

“So I think the point to be made here is that leadership is not all about yourself, and our candidates have shown their understanding of leadership, not all about themselves.

“But its all about the service to be rendered to the people and how that service is going to be sustained is also key.

The senator dismissed insinuations that the presidential candidate was challenged in his health, saying that he was very healthy to pilot the affairs of Nigeria, when elected come Feb. 25.

Abdullahi said that Tinubu had been campaigning actively round the country.

He also said Tinubu was a man who had knack for identifying and giving opportunities to talents to serve in the interest of citizens.

He assured that his senatorial district was fully for the APC candidates across board, saying that APC was fully on ground and would win in most states of the federation.

“Politics is local, I just came back from Borgu where I went to canvass support at my own senatorial district, and it was a huge success.

“I want to assure you that Niger North is for Jagaban Borgu/Kashim Shettima .

“And they are going to win that senatorial district just like many other parts of this country.”

“And we are campaning in the 36 States of the country, including FCT just as many other support groups out there in the field going to mobilise voters.

“And APC has credible candidates all across, so I believe that places us at much more advantage position than any body, irrespective of whatever crisis that may arise artificially,” he said. (NAN)(www.nannews.ng)

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Edited by Idris Abdulrahman

By Peter Amine

Governorship candidate of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Plateau, Dr Nentawe Yilwatda says agriculture would be his main focus if elected at the 2023 general elections.

His campaign spokesperson, Mr Shittu Bamayi, stated in Jos on Sunday that Yilwatda made the pronouncement on Saturday at interactive sessions with three communities in Langtang South Local Government Area of the state.

Yilwatda said he was amazed by the vast uncultivated arable land in the local government area saying that such endowment was enough to pull the people out of poverty.

“Boosting agriculture remains one of my cardinal objectives and I will go the whole hog to support farmers through the provision of high-yielding seedlings and modern farming technology.

“The people cannot enjoy the fruits of their labour in terms of food production if certain basic amenities are not provided to them.

“Apart from giving support to farmers, we will ensure that as a matter of priority, the lives of the people are properly secured.

“We will do that through well-trained security personnel and modern technology to fight terrorism and other forms of criminality,’’ he assured.

Yilwatda said the first thing to be done if elected would be to provide roads and potable water for people in communities visited.

He commended the Taroh people for being good and dependable hosts to many ethnic nationalities in the area who were purposely there to farm and earn a living. (NAN) (www.nannews.ng)

Edited by Abubakar Ahmed/Alli Hakeem

By Sumaila Ogbaje

Former Chief of Army Staff, retired Lt.-Gen. Tukur Buratai, has urged Nigerians to support the All Progressives Congress (APC) and its presidential candidate, Sen. Bola Tinubu in the Feb. 25 presidential election.

Buratai, who was the immediate past Ambassador of Nigeria to the Republic of Benin, made the call in an interview with newsmen on Sunday in Abuja.

He declared that he had become a democrat and a member of the APC, adding that he had ideas and ideals that the APC could safeguard.

“I also believe that the party means well for Nigeria, and also stands a better chance of winning the presidential elections.

“We are working round the clock to ensure that Asiwaju Bola Tinubu wins the election and I encourage you to vote for your choice, but if you want to hear my opinion, I would say vote for the APC,” he said.

Buratai also advised Nigerians to shun violence and dissociate themselves from any politician who would want to use violence to disrupt the system, urging Nigerians to allow the process to properly work.

Th former army chief expressed confidence that INEC was going to do a better job in the forthcoming elections than it did in 2019, adding that the elections would be peaceful, free, and fair.

According to him, the PDP had been tested for 16 years, appealing, ”Nigerians should give APC the benefit of the doubt for the next eight years.

“At the end of it, if the APC does not meet their expectations, then they may wish to take a decisive action including democratic revolution.

“Nigeria should be much better than what it is today. The foundation laid since 2015 by President Muhammadu Buhari must be carried on,” Buratai added. (NAN) (www.nannews.ng)

Edited by Bashir Rabe Mani