Rivers LG Polls: Group Tasks RSIEC On Credible Information Dissemination

A socio-political advocacy and grassroots mobilisation group, the Peoples Democratic Party- Grassroots Support Base Of Nigeria ( PDP-GSBN), has urged the Rivers State Independent Electoral Commission (RSIEC) to always disseminate accurate and factual information in the media.
This is contained in a statement the group issued in Port Harcourt shortly after her State Executive Council (SEC) meeting.
In the statement signed by its Coordinator, Comrade Joseph Opusunju; Deputy Coordinator, Dr John Okoroafor; Secretary, Comrade Asitona Emine; and Director, Media and Publicity, Pastor Bethel Toby, the group admonished RSIEC and its officials to always disseminate information without causing any backlash for the electoral commission, especially concerning the forth-coming local councils election scheduled for October 5, 2024 across the 23 local government areas of the State.
The group said communication was very important and therefore urged the officials of the commission to always avoid any utterances or use of words that can make the public to misunderstand their messages.
It said all RSIEC officials must be able to communicate better and ensure that they have deeper knowledge of what they want to speak about before engaging the media to ensure effective communication.
The group maintained that the basic requirements for appearing on television are knowledge, communication ability, information capability, intelligence, screen presence, interactive ability, diligence, comportment, respect, decency, dignity and humility.
While stressing the need for RSIEC officials to always consider the image of the electoral commission while dealing with the media and the public, the group said: “the issue of corporate image is encapsulated in both perpetual, physical, financial, reputation and social assets.”
The organization implored RSIEC officials to always ensure that they engaged journalists effectively and speak objectively by giving accurate facts and figures whenever they speak to media practitioners.
It also advised them not to be temperamental or lose control whenever they are speaking to the media on any controversial issue but they should be calm and present their points logically with facts and figures.
Meanwhile, the group has described Rivers State Governor, Sir Siminalayi Fubara as a saviour of the state and Nigeria’s democracy.
It said further that but for Governor Fubara’s administrative and political sagacity with which he handled the crisis that beset the Peoples Democratic Party ( PDP) in the state, immediately after the 2023 governorship elections, the party would have been destroyed and that would have dealt a mortal blow to this democratic dispensation.
The body also stated that the dogged and resilient manner with which Fubara handled PDP crisis peacefully, despite distractions, was what maintained the balance and boosted the party’s attractiveness, which has now turned him into, not only a serious politician, but a God-fearing leader.
The group, however, assured the Governor of its total support.

Bethel Toby