Timothy Omobude 
The Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ), in Edo state has condemned the attack on journalists covering the announcement of results for the All Progressives Congress (APC) Edo governorship primary election held on Saturday.
The Journalists were assaulted, alongside electoral officials by political thugs believed to be loyal to one of the governorship aspirant at Lushville hotel in Benin City, venue for the announcement of a parallel primary results.
The result as announced by the APC electoral officer, Dr. Stanley Ugboajah, had indicated that Senator Okpebholo was leading in six, out of eight local governments were the political thugs invaded the venue.
Scores of journalists reportedly lost their personal belongings while trying to escape, even as the hoodlums destroyed television cameras and laptops.
Reacting, Chairman of NUJ in Edo state, Comrade Festus Alekhe, discribed the incident as odious, abominable, shameful and unacceptable.
Alekhe cautioned that no journalist should be harassed, molested while performing his or her legitimate duties, adding that “we have rights to cover as many primaries or other activities, and make its outcome public.”
He handed out a seven-day ultimatum to the APC to apologise over the attack, in addition to signing undertaken to be of good conduct.
Alekhe said journalists would blacklist the party’s activities if it failed to show remorse and replace damaged journalists’ working tools.
Continuing, the NUJ chair admonished the state police commissioner, Mr Funsho Adegboye to “investigate the incident, arrest and prosecute all those involved in the dastardly act.”
According to him, “two weeks ago, I went to release two journalists who were held on account of covering Labour Party (LP) activities, and their cameras were confisticated. Though the LP apologiesed, and I let it go.
“And now, the APC attack is unacceptable. We will write the party officially on the incident, because election is not war.”
