No INEC staff will sell PVCs to any politician - OYO REC

The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC)  has assured the general public a free and fair election noting that non of its staffs would be caught with the act of selling PVCs to any political party.

Resident Electoral Commission  (REC) of INEC in Oyo state Barrister Mutiu Agboke, who gave this assurance in Ibadan disclosed that though some politicians in the state  have tried reaching out to the commission for the sales of Permanent Voters Cards (PVCs), but were disappointed because there was non to be sold.

His words " They are looking for what is not available , this is the security report at my disposal, those people are looking for what is not available, am saying it openly that there is no PVC to buy in Oyo state. No INEC staff will sell PVCs to any politician. I can assure you that the process will be free in Oyo state".

Barrister Agboke made this public while delivering his keynote address at a one-day seminar organised by Oyo state chapter of Online Media Practitioners Association on Thursday at the Nigeria Union Of Journalists hall, (NUJ), Iyaganku Ibadan.

Barrister Agboke also disclosed that  914,529  out of Over 2.9m Voter's cards are yet to be collected, urging those that yet to collect theirs to do so.

The REC who also charged journalists on the ethics of the profession, advised that real facts must be obtained on a write-up before breaking a news.

Speaking at the event , the South West Bureau Chief of The Nation Newspaper, Mr. Bisi Oladele,  tasked online media practitioners to ensure credibility in their practice and always abide by the rules and regulations guiding the profession in their day to day reportage. 

The guest lecturer while speaking to his paper said that proper investigation of stories before publishing would distinguish a professional journalist from  an ordinary writer, adding that a good and balanced story attracts website traffic.

Also speaking, Mr. Wale Ojo-Lanre, 

An  Associate Editor of the NigerianTribune Newspaper, noted  journalists have right to seek  request for information from organisations and individuals under the Freedom of Information Act.

Comrade Wumi Faniran, Chairman  Nigerian Union of Journalist, Oyo state council in his welcome remark advised online professionals to be conscious of the need to promote media integrity and operate in accordance to ethics of the profession.

 OMPAN Chairman, Oyo State, Mr Remi Oladoye, in his welcome adress, said the programm was organized to broaden the knowledge of online media practitioners on disseminating quick and  accurate information.