EU, IPC, CEMESO sensitise journalists on effective reportage of poll 
Governor of Bayelsa State, Douye Diri, has said that the state will not condone activities of illegal uniformed groups before and during the November 11 governorship election in the state, warning such groups to steer away from the state or be ready to face the law.

The governor and candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) gave the warning against the backdrop of claims that some politicians were planning to arm youths dressed in acquired uniforms to perpetrate violence during the poll.

Diri spoke at the service of songs in honour of the late All Progressives Congress (APC) chieftain, Nestor Binabo, who was a former Speaker of the House of Assembly and Acting Governor of the state, at the Chief DSP Alamieyeseigha Memorial Banquet hall, Yenagoa, on Wednesday.

The governor, in a statement by his Chief Press Secretary, Daniel Alabrah, called on such individuals to retrace their steps. He said the state is no longer a theatre of war during elections.

He asserted that with the Bimodal Voter Accreditation System (BVAS), introduced by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), violence, thuggery and ballot box snatching have become irrelevant during elections.

Diri extolled the qualities of the departed politician, stressing that Binabo was never known to patronise thugs for election purposes.

He, therefore, urged other politicians to take a cue from his noteworthy example.

He said: “Those civilians plotting to dress in military toga during the November election to cause havoc should realise that Bayelsa is no longer a place for such games. The culture of political violence has to stop.”

MEANWHILE, the International Press Centre (IPC), in collaboration with the European Union (EU) and the Centre for Media and Society (CEMESO) have trained journalists in Bayelsa on effective reportage of the forthcoming governorship election.

The training, which involved over 65 journalists from different organisations, equipped them with best practices towards effective and adequate coverage of the November 11 governorship polls.

The engagement also featured a roundtable discussion, lectures and interactive sessions with various resource persons, including representatives of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) and the Bayelsa State Police Command.

Speaking during the training, Executive Director, IPC, Lanre Arogundade, said that IPC believes the media has an important role to play in ensuring that citizens have credible information about the forthcoming election in the state.