
1,255 journalists from 94 media outlets have been approved by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to cover the off-cycle elections in the states of Bayelsa, Kogi, and Imo.
At a consultative meeting with the media on Thursday in Abuja, Prof. Mahmood Yakubu, the Chairman of INEC, revealed this information.
” In fact, our updated statistics show that 94 media organizations, deploying 1,255 personnel, have been accredited for the elections. In the next few days, the accredited media organizations will be notified of the date for the collection of the identity cards for their officials”.
According to him, about two weeks ago, the Commission conducted a mock accreditation involving actual voters in designated polling units in the three States.
He said, “by doing so, we tested the efficacy of the Bimodal Voter Accreditation System (BVAS) for both biometric authentication of voters and the upload of result to the INEC Result Viewing Portal (IReV). Some of you observed the mock accreditation exercise and viewed the results on the IReV portal. We have received no adverse report so far. By this, we are encouraged that the test was successful and we look forward to improved performance of the BVAS in voter accreditation and result upload in the forthcoming Governorship elections and beyond”
Responding on behalf of the Media Executives, the Director News, Federal Radio Corporation of Nigeria, (FRCN), Hussaina Akila commend the commission for maintaining for sustaining relationship with the media.
On the issue of fake news, Alake said that the menace was challenging but assured that as responsible partners, the media will do everything to discourage the trend.
Be the first to comment