Polls: Oyo State NUJ Condemns Pre-election Violence in Ibadan

The Chairman, Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ), Oyo State Council, Ademola Babalola, on Friday condemned the pre-election violence, which claimed three lives and injured others in Ibadan tasking security agencies to step up security for electorate and staff of Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) during and after Saturday gubernatorial and State Assembly polls.

The number one Journalist in the state also called for the arrest of the perpetrators of the killings, saying that Oyo State should not be allowed to descend into a ‘war of political thugs’ and killing of innocent citizens and residents.

Babalola in a press statement made available to newsmen by the NUJ Secretary, Sola Oladapo, bemoaned the clash between supporters of the ruling Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and the opposition All Progressives Congress (APC), on Thursday.

The NUJ Chairman described the development as reprehensible, ungodly and barbaric, which should not have happened at all, if the gladiators had prevailed on their supporters to toe the path of honour and embrace peaceful conduct before, during and after the elections.

While appealing to gubernatorial candidates in the state to caution their supporters to stop violent attacks and counter-attacks, Babalola noted that violence could threaten voters’ turnout and suppress participation in the election.

Babalola also tasked his colleagues -the journalists to be wary of their “mad rush to break unverified news,” filter and verify sources of their information, and carry out diligent investigation before rushing to the press.

[NIGERIAN TRIBUNE]