ASABA/Nigeria: The Association of Community Newspaper Publishers of Nigeria (ACNPN), Delta State Chapter has called on the Delta State Independent Electoral Commission (DSIEC) to ensure that the Local Government elections slated for January 6, 2018 is conducted under free and fair atmosphere.
According to the Chairman of the Association, Jude Obiemenyego who disclosed this to journalists in an interview in Asaba stressed that the responsibility of the Association is to promote good governance, educate, entertain, inform, sensitize, uphold professional ethics, peaceful co-existence and state unity through information dissemination.
Obiemenyego emphasized that ACNPN which is registered with the Corporate Affairs Commission (CAC) and Umbrella body for credible Community Newspaper in the state would appreciate DSIEC as unbiased umpire to play the role of scrutinizing the candidates, background, manifestoes, philosophies, ideologies, provide robust platform for candidates, be transparent in its electoral process without favoring any political party in the election.
The ACNPN chairman pointed that the Commission should promote free and fair election for the sixteen political parties and 1,089 candidates participating the election by engaging in investigative role of revealing anything that is directly or remotely suggestive of potentials compromise of electoral ethics for doing this, the commission should be free and fair to every contestant involved in the electoral process.
Also, the Chairman maintained that the important role the Commission plays in the society in the political life of the society is anchored in the electioneering process, if the election structural integrity is compromised or defective through the commission’s activities, there could be serious problem which such compromise or defect has significant upheaval and disaster in many places in the world.
DSIEC, according to Jude Obiemenyego should play the role of unbiased umpire effectively by ensuring that proper security of lives and properties are put in place during the Local Government elections, educating the contestants on the need to embrace peace because politics is not a do-or die affair.
He advised that for the election to be credible, the commission should ensure that election materials are released on time to the local government areas to enable the electorates vote at the appropriate time.
He noted that DSIEC should caution candidates for elections to avoid inflammatory statements that can ignite crisis because the duty of care and social responsibility role of the Commission is paramount at this period of electioneering.
