Shina J.O

Press Release

19/03/2023

The International Press Centre (IPC), Lagos is highly disturbed by the reported incidents of attacks on journalists and other media professionals covering the today’s governorship and House of Assembly elections in some parts of the country including Lagos, Ogun and Rivers States.

IPC’s JOURNALISTS’ -ELECTION-DAY-SAFETY-ALERT-DESK has confirmed that AIT Reporters and cameramen including Henrietta Oke, Amarachi Amushie and Nkiru Nwokedi were molested and prevented from covering the elections at some polling units in Eti-Osa, Ifako-Ijaiye and Amuwo Odofin local government areas by political thugs and hoodlums.
Journalist Nwokedi temporarily lost her phone before it was recovered with the help of Odua Peoples Congress (OPC) men while Journalist Amushie was rough handled, her camera damaged and the cameraman beaten in the presence of a political chieftain.

The Alert Desk also established that Arise TV News crew comprising Reporter Oba Adeoye,
Cameraman Opeyemi Adenihun and driver Yusuf Hassan was attacked while covering voting in Elegushi area of Lagos.

“The cameraman, Opeyemi Adenihun suffered facial injuries while drones and equipment were seized” according to the news medium.

In Ogun State, News Agency of Nigeria’s reporter, Adejoke Adeleye, was among journalists molested in Itori Odo Area of Abeokuta South Local government where they faced mob attack by political thugs who equally reportedly assaulted INEC officials with axes and allegedly destroyed ballot boxes.

The details also include the denial of access to journalists who tried to capture voting in the polling unit of PDP Governorship candidate in Rivers State by some “overzealous police officers”.

“The policemen refused passage despite the proof of identity provided by the journalists” the report from Rivers stated

IPC strongly condemns these unacceptable attacks which constitute both the violation of the fundamental rights of the affected journalists and media workers and major assault on press freedom.

“Following the attacks on journalists during the presidential and national Assembly elections on February 25, we had called on the Police, the Political Parties and all concerned to take measures to protect them today. It is therefore worrisome that such attacks have been repeated”, the Press Freedom and Safety Alert Desk Officer of IPC, Melody Lawal said in a statement.

Mrs. Lawal charged the security agencies to thoroughly investigate the various attacks and ensure that the perpetrators face the consequences of their illegal and actions.

SGD:
Melody Lawal
Press Freedom. Officer, IPC
melodyakinjiyan@ipcng.org

18/03/23

Shina J.O

The Governorship candidate of the People’s Democratic party, Abdul Azeez Adediran popularly called Jandor has decried the level of harassment of voters by thugs allegedly sponsored by the ruling APC party in the state.

Adediran in company of his wife made the allegation while speaking with News men after casting his vote at polling Unit 001 in Irewe community Ojo local government area of Lagos State.

While commending the INEC officials for early arrival and seamless distribution of electoral materials urged the Security personnel to live up to expectation.

The Governorship candidate however commended people in Irewe community for their peaceful conduct during the exercise.

Irewe community is said to be one of the largest Riverine communities in the state.

18/03/23

Shina J.O

The governorship candidate of the Labou party, Gbadebo Rhodes-Vivour says he is confident of victory at the polls.

Speaking shortly after casting his vote at Ward A, unit 45, in Oshifila/Anifowose in Ikeja area of Lagos state, Rhodes Vivour described the electoral process and peaceful in his polling unit but made allegations of voter intimidation and suppression in some parts of Lagos state.

He asked Labour Party supporters to be undeterred by actions of the opposition to ensure he doesn’t come out victorious.

Some electorate however commended the conduct of electoral process but made allegations of vote buying at unit 18 and 45 in Computer village area of Ikeja.

They added that the independent national electoral commission made a significant improvement in todays election, compared to the February 25 elections, which was marred by late arrival of inec officilas and materials.

18/03/23

Shina J O

Lagos state governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu has expressed satisfaction with the turn out of voters and the peace way the election is being conducted.

Sanwo-Olu who stated this after casting his vote at his Eiyekole ward in Adeniji Adele area of Lagos Island said the polls was going on smoothly.
Sanwo-Olu who was accompanied by his wife urged Lagos residents to be vigilant and avoid violent conduct.

The voting exercise which witnessed large turnout of registered voters also has security personnel on ground to ensure safety and orderliness.

25/02/23

Shina J O

President Muhammadu Buhari has cast his vote in his home town of Daura in Katsina State.

The President exercised his franchise on Saturday at his Kofar Baru Polling Unit 003 of Sarkin Yara ‘A’ Ward of Daura Local Government Area of Katsina State at exactly 9:59am.

He was accompanied by his son Yusuf and other members of the first family.

The president after voting, commended the process, saying it has been smooth and successful.

President buhari said he was happy that his party won the election, and that his administration has indeed kept the promise it made to Nigerians in 2015.

17/03/2023

PRESS RELEASE

The Chairman of the Lagos Parks Management Committee, Musiliu Akinsanya, otherwise known as MC Oluomo, has been alleged to have sent a warning to anyone who intends to vote for a party other than the All Progressives Congress (APC) in the Saturday, March 18, 2023, governorship and state assembly elections in the state.

Oluomo is a well-known supporter of the ruling APC and has on numerous occasions publicly declared his support for the incumbent and the party’s candidate in the Saturday election, Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu.

Meanwhile, in a video that surfaced online on Thursday, March 16, 2023, Oluomo was alleged to have been caught issuing what could easily pass for a subtle threat to anyone whose plan is to vote for a different party on Saturday.

Standing in front of a massive crowd packed inside a hall, the Parks Committee Chairman, speaking in Yoruba language, urged party supporters to instruct their neighbours not to bother coming out if they won’t for the APC.

Oluomo has repeatedly been fingered for engineering attacks against anyone perceived to be supporters of opposition parties in the state, especially in areas that have heavy presence of people of the South-East extraction.

The threat comes after the shocking outcome of the presidential election in Lagos where the Labour Party candidate, Peter Obi, recorded a surprising victory against the APC candidate and president-elect, Asiwaju Bola Tinubu.

The Labour Party also won three House of Representatives seats in the state, leading to suggestions that the ruling party’s 24-year dominance in Lagos may be usurped by the new political wave sweeping across the state.

Shina J.O

17/03/23

PRESS RELEASE

The Lagos Zonal Command of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC on Thursday arraigned Chandra Prakash Singh who is an Indian before Justice Nicholas Oweibo of the Federal High Court sitting in Ikoyi, Lagos on a seven-count charge bordering on stealing to the tune of over Two Hundred Thousand US Dollars.

This is contained in a Statement by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC. Chandra Singh pleaded not guilty to the offence and in view of his plea, the prosecution counsel, B.B. Bala asked that the defendant be remanded and a date for trial.

However, counsel to the defendant, Efe Solomon Izokor appealed to the court for an oral application for bail.

Bala objected to the submission made by the defence, insisting that “a written bail application be brought before the court” to enable her to respond accordingly.

Justice Oweibo remanded the defendant in the correctional facility and adjourned the matter till June 27, 2023 for the commencement of trial.