Prof Emeka Ezeonu, former Imo, Resident Electoral Commissioner, Independent National Electoral Commission(INEC)said that 2023 general elections cannot be rigged.
He said during the Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ) Anambra Council installation of new patrons and revalidation of its old patrons in Awka on Wednesday.
Ezeonu appealed to the public to ensure they get their Permanent Voters Card (PVCs) ready to perform their civic responsibility come 2023.
He said that the Electoral law as amended 2022 made it impossible for any form of rigging to take place in Nigerian elections any longer.
“BVAS approval has tightened the loop holes in card reader as such electorate should be more confident that their votes would count,”He said.
Ezeoonu who is the chairman of the double event Christmas party of the council urged journalists to be very professional in their reportage always.
Prof Stella Okunna, a professor of Mass Communication with specialty in Behaviour change Communication and Development communication charged journalists to be ethical balanced.
Okunna a Deputy Vice Chancellor,Paul’s University Awka and NUJ Anambra Council Matriarch counsel journalists to know the worth in the society give in their best to build a better society.
She said that Journalists are agenda setter and should live up to their responsibility by fishing and dishing out quality and unflawed reports to their audiences.
Chief Chris Eluemunoh, a veteran journalist and community leader encouraged journalists not to relent in giving the public quality reports as sound reporting grows a nation.
Eluemunoh said in their time of practice that the environment for reporting was intense but the defied all odds to feed the public richly with on spot news.
He said as a grand patron of council that it is his duty to advise them to report correctly and wisely especially during the general elections.
Eluemunoh said that their report must seen and believed to be fair to all and without bias.
Mr Felix Awogu, executive Head Studios and Events,Multichoice Nigeria, was installed as among the new patron of the council.
Earlier Dr Emeka Odogwu. chairman of Anambra Council in his speech said that Journalists needs to be well cared for in the country because of hazard associated to their jobs.
Odogwu appealed to the relevant authorities to upgrade the status of the journalists in the country by handsome recognition and payment.
Mr Henry Nwasike former Chairman of Anambra Council urged journalists to tackle quacks In the system to ensure respect for the profession as non professionals gives bas image of the job.
The planning committee chairman of the event Mrs Joy Mbachi said that the role of journalists in nation building cannot be waved off and called for quality pay package for journalists.
Mbachi urged journalists to hold on to the elementary of their jobs and proudly serve the public through quality reportage.
THE RAZOR reports that Obi Asika CEO Cabal entertainment, Executive producer,curator and developer of original content,Dr Azubike Ekweozor was among the new patrons.
