A statement jointly signed by the State Chairman of the Association of Online Media Practitioners of Nigeria (OMPAN), Abere Ayodele and the State Secretary, Emmanuel Adeniran in Ekiti State has send a very strong warning to all the Online Newspapers and operators in Ekiti State not to allow politicians make use of them for their selfish reasons.
Both the State Chairman and the State Secretary of the Online Media Practitioners Association of Nigeria (OMPAN), Ekiti State Chapter wishes to formally use this opportunity to inform the good people of Ekiti State and the Ekiti Electorates to allow peace to reign in the State before, during and after the July 14th, 2018 Governorship Election already scheduled to hold in all the 16 local government areas, 177 wards and in the 2,195 polling units where voting will take place on the election day. Members of the public, politicians, political parties leaders, Governorship Candidates, their supporters and all the Electoral Officials including the Security Agencies by this Statement are all enjoined to conduct themselves peaceably, orderly, maturely, decently and responsibly to avoid getting involved in issues that are capable of causing crisis or jeopardise the already existing peace and security in the State which could frustrate the Electoral Process on the Election Day.
Equally, the OMPAN Chapter of Ekiti State, appeals to all its members and non-memebers as well as all the Users and Owners of Online Newspapers, Blogs, Facebooks, Twitter Accounts, WhatsApp platforms and all other Social Media and Online Mediums to avoid posting and publishing of JUNKS, FAKE AND UNVERIFIED ELECTION RESULTS that does not Officially emanates from the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC). We are also appealing to all the political parties agents, the political parties Media Departments as well as the various Media Aides and Assistants of the Governorship Candidates to EXERCISE CAUTION AND RESTRAINT towards releasing Unofficial Election Results that may generate controversies and create confusion that are capable of settling the entire State on fire.
OMPAN in Ekiti State hereby advise Political Parties, the Governorship Candidates and the Politicians to be patient at rushing to the Media whether Online, Electronics or Print on the Election Day to instigate Violence and possible breakdown of Law and Order as a result of misinforming the general public.
All the Online Newspapers and Social Media Users should totally avoid misinforming the public. They are also warned against publishing stories Online without adequately and efficiently verifying the source of such stories and ensuring such stories are balanced and not biased. Ekiti OMPAN also admonish Online Reporters in the State to tread softly as publishing unverified stories could land those involved in the hand of Security Agencies in the State with no efforts or intervention from OMPAN to rescue such.
To avoid any Online Reporters having fisticuffs with security agencies, they are advised in their own interest to adhere to all the OMPAN official directives.
Emmanuel Adeniran, Ado Ekiti
