Journalists threaten to boycott INEC’s activities in Ebonyi

Journalists in Ebonyi State have threatened to boycott all activities of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) in the State following the unfriendly disposition of the commission to journalists.

INEC in Abakaliki had banned journalists from coverage of its event on Wednesday.

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Daily Trust reports that members of the correspondents chapel, including some local newspapers, were not allowed inside the venue of the event.

Addressing members of the Correspondent Chapel of the Nigeria Union of Journalists, Ebonyi State Council, the Vice Chairman of the Chapel, Uchenna Inya, expressed dismay over the action of the commission.

Inya called on the chairman of the commission, Prof Mahmud Yakubu, to call the Resident Electoral Commissioner, Ebonyi State to order.

He threatened that should the commission continues with such unprofessional disposition, Correspondents Chapel will not hesitate to henceforth boycott all INEC activities in the State.

Earlier, the Administrative Secretary of the commission, Mr Clement Oha, had summoned journalists in his office and blatantly told them that the coverage was just for a few.

According to him, “the commission does not need the massive coverage of its activities, we don’t need this whole press,” Oha said.

However, there is apprehension among political office holders whether INEC would comply with the judgement of the federal high court in Abuja last week Tuesday which sacked governor David Umahi and his deputy, Dr Kelechi Igwe including 16 state lawmakers.

Although, the Speaker of the state’s House of Assembly, Rt.Hon. Francis Nwafiru, had on Tuesday during a sitting declared three more seats vacant.

Nwifuru also directed the commission to conduct bye-elections in constituencies whose lawmakers’ seats were declared vacant.