REC Seeks Open Screening Of INEC Commissioners

The Resident Electoral Commissioner in Cross River, Mr Mike Igini, has called for open screening of electoral commissioner nominees in the country.

Igini made the call in Calabar at a two-day zonal media conference and stakeholders meeting on the review of the 1999 Constitution for the South-South geo-political zone.

According to him, open screening is necessary to give the citizens opportunity to know the nominees and assess their integrity.

“I recommend screening of INEC commissioner nominees by the senate should be done in the open rather than the present screening by committees.

“This will afford Nigerians the opportunity of assessing the nominees and know their true identity,‘’ he said.

He said that one the problems facing the electoral process was the question of integrity of members of the electoral commissioners.

Earlier, the Speaker of the State House of Assembly, Mr Larry Odey, said the media represented critical factor in the growth of democracy and good governance.

“No serious society can downplay the role of the media; I find it convenient to say that you are the people’s parliament,‘’ he said.

Represented by Mr Ngim Okpo, the Chairman, House Committee on Information, Odey said the House would continue to work with the media in the realisation of its goals.

Mr Akin Akingbulu, the Executive Director, Institute for Media and Society, said the media network on review of the constitution had made several proposals to the committee.

Akingbulu said that the 1999 Constitution provided for freedom of expression for all citizens “but neither of the section provides specifically for the media’’.

He said that the network had sent a memorandum on “media independence, freedom of expression and access to information’’ to the review committee.

He enjoined the media to always propagate the ideals in the interest of the profession.