As part of its efforts in ensuring free, fair and credibility in the forthcoming general elections, the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has urged the media to help in educating and informing the general public on voting procedures.

It made the plea on Friday at a sensitisation workshop in Jos, capital of Plateau State. Many of the journalists who participated in the workshop are journalists drawn from different media organisations in the North East and North Central geo-political zones of the country.

In his welcome address, the Resident Electoral Commissioner (REC) in Plateau State, MallamHaliluPai, on Friday, welcomed the participants and said that the programme is auspicious at this particular time that elections at all levels are drawing nearer.

He added that the robust sensitisation of the public by the media would go a long way in helping the commission to organise successful polls in February and March.

According to him, “Fee and fair election remains the core mandate of the INEC. The mass media should be free to hold government accountable to the people. Correct flow of information is the commission’s mandate.

“The mass media should make input as we believe they will fully utilise what they have learnt from this platform to sensitise the public on voting procedures and the need for them to conduct themselves peacefully before, during and after the polls.”

The Plateau REC added: “Though as a commission we have engaged in robust voter education and public enlightenment, our effort alone is not enough; we need the support of the media to conduct credible elections.

“So, I call on the media to continue to create more enlightenment and educate the voters on voting procedures, mobilisation and the need for them to be peaceful during elections.

“The task before all of us is to have credible elections in February 16th and March 2nd.”

He admonished the media to work as partners in progress with INEC with a view to fulfilling the mission.

Pai also urged the media to educate those who had not yet collected their Permanent Voter Cards (PVCs), to do so, as only those with PVCs would be allowed to vote at the elections.

He further explained that the rationale for the sensitisation forum was aimed at putting media practitioners in the know of its level of preparations ahead of the polls

Speaking also at the sensitisation forum, National Commissioner and Chair INEC, Barrister Festus Okoye, said that the build-up to the election is tasking and INEC is committed to the conduct of credible election.

His words: “We are impartial and will create a common playing ground for all political parties.

“We have had meetings with political parties, traditional rulers, security agencies and we know the mission is possible.

“We have also carried out sensitisationprogramme for the mass media to actualise all if our programmes.

“Since the release of timetable, we have implemented many of our electoral activities. We also have released guidelines on the conduct of the elections.”

Okoye charged those who are yet to collect their cards to do so at various designated centres which will still be available for collection till February 8.

At the event, INEC officials lamented that millions of cards are still yet to be collected.

They also claimed that politicians are currently buying PVCs, thereby planning to deprive voters of voting since it will be difficult to buy votes at the polling units.

Equally, they called on Media to educate, sensitise voters, display fanatical patriotism, take deliberate actions to support electoral process, expose electoral fraud and malpractice and Grant equally access to all political parties.

•Some of the participants at the event including News Express correspondent (2nd right)