Edo election: Coalition asks authorities to investigate attacks on journalists

The Coalition of Whistleblowers Protection and Press Freedom (CWPPF) has called for an investigation into the attack on journalists during the Edo governorship election.

In a statement on Tuesday, the coalition asked authorities to investigate incidents of violations against journalists and election observers during the September 19 election in Edo.

Citing specific instances in which journalists “suffered physical attacks, detention, destruction of work tools and denial of access”, the organisation said despite the crucial role played by journalists in monitoring elections, security agents failed to protect them.

“The coalition of Whistleblowers Protection and Press Freedom (CWPPF) has followed closely, alongside other stakeholders, the recently concluded elections in Edo State and is alarmed to notice a continuing trend of disregard for the safety and security of journalists through the complicity of security personnel,” the statement read.

“The coalition wishes to specifically address several of these attacks, including the brutal attack and detention of Samson Adenekan, a reporter with Premium Times, and Nathaniel Offel of GeeTV by thugs for taking pictures and recording videos of the irregularities at the Ward 10 (Uzairue North East), Polling Unit 1 of Etsako West local government in Iyamho area of Uzairue.

“The actions of the journalists were in no way out of order, and according to eyewitnesses, not only were security personnel present during these attacks, they did nothing to intervene or apprehend the attackers.

“Several other journalists and observers were denied access to their designated monitoring and observation centres. They are Samuel Ajala, Maxwell Osita, and Alamu Dolapo, among others, who were denied access to the collation centre at Ikpoba-Okha local government area by security personnel with no clear reason, but which represents a blatant abuse of power and a breach of the constitutional rights of the journalists from performing their statutory functions in an election settings.”

CWPPF said attack on journalists is a hindrance to free and fair elections which contravenes the Nigerian constitution “which reposes the responsibility of information dissemination and education on journalists”.

The organisation, therefore, urged security operatives and INEC to ensure a safe environment for journalists to perform their duties in the Ondo election scheduled to take place on October 10, 2020.