Politics
Don Tasks Media On Democracy
A political scientist, Prof.
Adigun Agbaje, on Wednesday in Abuja, advised media practitioners to see contentious issues surrounding elections as opportunities to strengthen Nigeria’s democracy.
Agbaje of the Department of Political Science, University of Ibadan, Ibadan, gave the advice while delivering a lecture entitled “Media and Electoral Reportage in Nigeria: An Assessment of Professional and Ethical Issues’’.
The lecture was organised by The Electoral Institute owned by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC).
Agabje said that there was no doubt that dictates of professional and ethical requirements for reporting elections supportive of democracy and credible election would remain contentious in the future.
“We should see such contentious issues as opportunity to fashion out for the country a professional and ethical framework that suits the requirements of its media industry, including new media.
“It should suit the media industry in order for it to facilitate required election and other forms of reportage conducive to the blossoming of democracy,’’ he said.
The don added that within the framework must be located lessons learned since the 1980s, which increased certification in the form of higher education for media professionals.
He listed some of the prerequisites for better professionalism and ethical behaviour in the media to include a mixture of hands-on-training and exposure with knowledge gained in class room situations.
Others, according to him, include sustaining and deepening current stage of media diversity and strengthening the application of media technologies.
Agbaje said that this must be done in manners that devolved power and awareness to the grassroots and promoted democratic engagement “of and with the people’’.
He advised journalists and media managers to strictly adhere to the codes and ethics guiding their profession in the course of carrying out their duties.
These, he said, covered editorial independence, accuracy and fairness, privacy, decency, discrimination, reward and gratification, violence, public interest, among others.
Politics
Alleged Coup: Protests Rock N’Assembly As Detained Officers’ Children, Wives Demand Justice
Scores of children and wives of military officers detained over an alleged coup plot yesterday staged a peaceful protest at the National Assembly, demanding a speedy trial and the release of the accused officials.
The protesters who gathered at the entrance of the National Assembly complex, moved in a slow procession while clutching placards with inscriptions such as “Don’t Kill Our Daddies,” “Detention Without Trial is Injustice,” and “Six Months of Torture: Enough Is Enough.”
Amid tears and trembling voices, the children appealed for justice and access to their detained fathers, many of whom they said they had not seen for months.
The appeal was made during a press briefing in Abuja attended by no fewer than 20 wives and several children of the detained officers, including a two-month-old baby.
The families were accompanied by human rights lawyer, Deji Adeyanju and activist Omoyele Sowore.
At the briefing, the families lamented that the officers had been held for over 160 days without trial or contact with their relatives, describing the situation as a violation of their fundamental rights.
Speaking on behalf of the families, Memuna Bashiru said the prolonged detention had thrown their households into uncertainty and emotional distress, noting that while allegations had been widely publicised, families remained in the dark about the fate of their loved ones.
The arrest of the indicted officers was first announced on October 4, 2025, by the then Director of Defense Information, Brigadier General Tukur Gusau, who disclosed that 16 officers were taken into custody for alleged breaches of military regulations and acts of indiscipline.
However, an interim investigation later suggested the existence of a clandestine network of officers, allegedly coordinated by a senior Army officer, which had begun preliminary planning for a coup.
According to the report, the alleged plot involved surveillance of key national assets, including the Presidential Villa, Armed Forces Complex, Niger Barracks in Abuja, and major international airports, with October 25, 2025, cited as the planned date for the operation.
Those reportedly in custody include Brig Gen M. A. Sadiq, Col M. A. Maaji, Lt Col S. Bappah, Lt Col A. A. Hayatu, Lt Col P. Dangnap, Lt Col M. Almakura, Maj A. J. Ibrahim, Maj M. M. Jiddah, Maj M. A. Usman, Maj D. Yusuf, Capt I. Bello, Capt A. A. Yusuf, Lt S. S. Felix, Lt Cdr D. B. Abdullahi, Sqn Ldr S. B. Adamu and Maj I. Dauda.
The alleged plot, according to findings, targeted senior government officials, including President Tinubu and Vice President Kashim Shettima.
In a statement issued yesterday, the party’s National Publicity Secretary, Mr Felix Morka, said the exercise would take place in all wards and designated centres nationwide.
He called on existing members to update their records, while encouraging new entrants to join the party through the digital platform.
“As the electronic membership registration exercise resumes in all wards and designated locations nationwide, we urge existing members to validate their membership while new members are encouraged to register and join the progressive family,” Mr Morka said.
According to him, eligibility for registration is limited to individuals aged 18 and above who possess a valid National Identification Number (NIN).
The party said the initiative is part of efforts to modernise its operations by transitioning to a digital database that would enhance record accuracy and accessibility.
Mr Morka noted that the e-registration would “digitise the party’s membership register, ensure the integrity of records, and enhance efficient access to membership data for planning and management decisions.”
He added that the move is also aimed at promoting internal democracy within the party and strengthening its commitment to democratic innovation.
The APC had previously introduced electronic registration as part of broader reforms to streamline its membership system and improve organisational efficiency.
