joshua
By Ikhili Ebalu, Benin City.
Many journalists including Correspondent of The Nigeria Post were saturday barred from covering the All Progressives Congress , ( APC), state congress election at the University of Benin sport complex.
The journalists were turned back at the entrance of the venue, as security guard said journalists were invited and that the journalists must produced their accreditation cards.
Even when the journalists showed their Identity cards, officials of the Directorate of State Security Service manning the gate stopped the journalists, saying they are acting on instruction.
“You can’t entered the venue, we don’t need office identity card. If you want to enter the venue you have to show your accreditation card. Sorry, it is not our fault, we are acting under instruction, called the officials”
One of the party officials when approached told the journalists that there is nothing he can do since he is not part of the publicity committee.
“I don’t know the criteria for selecting the media organisations for the coverage but all I know is that five prints and four electronics were accredited for the event”.
Meanwhile, a delegate from Etsako West local government Make Afaliokhai said, the congress election went peacefully.
He said the state executive were elected through affirmation by all the deliegates.
He said Francis Inegbeneki who was contesting the chairmanship position was forced to step down after much pressure from party leaders and the Presidency intervention to pave way for Col. David Imuse (rtd), who was elected state chairman of the party.
Lawrence Okah was however elected as the party secretary among others.
