The Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ), has issued the All Progressives Congress (APC) seven days ultimatum to tender unreserved apology to the Union for assaulting its members or be prepared for a war with the media.
The Edo State Council, Comrade Festus Alenkhe, said this on Sunday in Benin, while making the decision known to APC national leadership over the attack on journalists who were covering the primary election of the party on Saturday.
Several journalists were attacked and beaten, their equipment wrecked by thugs of a faction of the party at Lushville Hotel, GRA Benin city, the venue of the collation of the gubernatorial primaries.
According to him, “The Nigeria Union of Journalists, Edo State Council met at the directive of the national leadership and we have resolved as follows:
“That the NUJ, Edo State Council, is fully ready to declare a media war against the All Progressives Congress if the following things are not meant.
“That APC, Edo State, is expected to replace all the damaged equipment of journalists that were covering the event on the 17th day of February, 2024, pay medical bills of journalists injured during the attack, apologize to the NUJ at both state and national [levels] over the attack where journalists were manhandled, and their equipment destroyed, where journalists were also prevented from carrying out their legitimate duty.
“This, Edo NUJ Council describe as unacceptable and we condemn this act heavily.
“The Commissioner of Police in Edo State, should help fish out all those who were responsible for the attack and ensure that they are prosecuted because the report says that some of them are very known as they never wore masks.
“We want to request very strongly that the management of the Hotel where the incident happened, should make available to us the CCTV footage of the incident and this should be made public and also help the police in their investigations.
“Lastly, we want to say that the Edo State election coming up in September 2024 is not a do-or-die [affair]. I therefore direct all journalists to cover it.”
He also called out to other political parties which are yet to conduct their primary election to ensure maximum security is on ground to ensure the safety of Journalists.
