Gov. David Umahi Orders Arrest of Journalists, Fake Observers

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Mr. David Umahi
Ebonyi State Governor

The Ebonyi State governor, Mr. David Umahi on March 17, 2023, ordered the arrest of any journalist or fake observer found loitering in polling units and other election zones during governorship and house of assembly elections fixed for March 18.

During a statewide broadcast and press conference preparatory to the polls, Gov. Umahi said he had a word for ‘emergency journalists.’ He claimed “people jump out, especially now that we have online media.”

He stated that he knows there is a union for journalists in the state and concluded that those who are not members of the union are not journalists. He added: “There are visiting journalists who we may not know: such persons need extra accreditation from the chairman of NUJ in the State.”

The governor claimed journalists who were not ordinarily based in the state need to register with the Ebonyi State NUJ Chapter because of security threats adding “Anyone who parades himself in violation of these rules may risk arrest.”