Vanguard used this story as their cover page story on the 4th of Jan, 2015:

41 DAYS TO PRESIDENTIAL POLL: MILLIONS IN SOUTH MAY NOT VOTE

http://www.vanguardngr.com/2015/01/41-days-presidential-poll-millions-south-may-not-vote/

INEC has come out now to refute the story and condemn it. Its so sad that Vanguard is playing a major role in emphasizing the fault lines of Nigeria as a country and using it to write sensational stories. Find INEC reply below


http://www.inecnigeria.org/?inecnews=re-millions-in-the-south-may-not-vote

RE: ‘MILLIONS IN THE SOUTH MAY NOT VOTE’

January 07th, 2015



The Editor-in-Chief,
Vanguard Media Limited, Vanguard Avenue, Kirikiri Canal,
Apapa, Lagos.


Re: ‘Millions in the South may not vote’

I write on behalf of the Chairman, Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), Professor Attahiru Jega, to complain about the deliberate falsehood and misinformation contained in the Cover page story of Sunday Vanguard edition for January 4, 2015, titled as stated above.
The story in question provided statistics about the collection rate of Permanent Voter Cards (PVCs) across 28 states, in a 36-states-plus-one (i.e., the Federal Capital Territory) federation; but proceeded to infer a conclusive regional design of higher collection rate in one section of the country than the other. Consequently, the story was deliberately mute on, or simply ignored the following:

(i) That the document your writer apparently sourced his figures from (which the Commission voluntarily put in public domain since early December 2014) clearly indicated that distribution of PVCs continued at local government offices of INEC at the end of the three-day exercise at polling unit level.

(ii) That differences in levels of turn-out by people for their PVCs is not the making of INEC, since the Commission has put in place the same procedure across the country guaranteeing equal access to persons wanting to collect their cards. Rather than concoct conspiracy theories about INEC, a desire for public good should have motivated your writer to encourage persons in areas where collection rate is relatively low to urgently go and pick their PVCs; and

(iii) That 28 states out of 36 states plus the FCT is not a complete picture, contrary to the writer’s pretention that he was presenting a comprehensive national profile. As a matter of fact, in calculating the percentages, your writer not only understated the percentage for South-West, for instance, if you take the average of individual state percentages that he himself indicated, he also conveniently ignored the fact that distribution in Ekiti and Osun states that was done earlier in 2014 was not included.
Really, nothing can surpass these in intellectual dishonesty and vocational mischief! It was expected that your reporter, if his motive were to sincerely inform the public, would have requested from INEC its official figures for the entire country on the subject of the story. The Commission has nothing to hide; so, kindly find attached the authentic data on the distribution of PVCs across the country to date. Note also, kindly, that these figures are far from being final for the 2015 general election, since PVC distribution by INEC continues until close to the elections.

It is also observed that the story alleges all manners of ‘conspiracies’ in the operations of INEC, including an allegation that “District Heads (in the North) were allowed to collect PVCs on behalf of prospective voters.” Sir, nothing can be further from the truth. The deliberate falsehood intended by your reporter was underscored by the fact that the story only cited unnamed (certainly fictitious) sources as well as purported ‘investigation’ by the paper; while no identifiable spokesperson of the Commission was given a say – even if only for record purposes.

Certainly, this does not show the basic ethic of balanced reporting that is expected in responsible journalism.
Comments, as they say, are free but facts are sacred. It amounts to sheer malevolent journalism for one to cite cold statistics in making fabled claims. That is what your reporter has done and, with due respect, it really belittles your reputed newspaper stable and smacks of hatchet job for vested interests.

Sir, we all have a stake in this country and should be keen to contribute to the success of the imminent general election. Your newspaper will account to history if it falsely fans the embers of ethnicity and sectionalism as could create needless tensions in the polity around the elections. Even then, the dictates of professional ethics require some modicum of scrupulousness in the dissemination of information for public consumption!

Wishing you well and God’s guidance.


Kayode Robert Idowu
Chief Press Secretary to INEC Chairman
Cc: Publisher, Vanguard Media Limited

Please click to download====>PVC DISTRIBUTION
http://www.inecnigeria.org/wp-content/uploads/2015/01/PVC-DISTRIBUTION-current-1.xlsx

This brings to mind the irresponsible journalism surrounding the 1983 elections. Journalisst sacrificed truth on the alter partisanship.

I created this thread so that INEC's rebuttal to the sensational story captured by Vanguard "41 DAYS TO PRESIDENTIAL POLL: MILLIONS IN SOUTH MAY NOT VOTE" can be read by a good number of people.

This story published by Vanguard graced Nairaland front page and it will be in the interest of the country for INEC's rebuttal be equally given the exposure that the earlier story was given.

Today, Vanguard published another story premised on the points presented in the earlier story.

How The Elections Are Already Being Rigged - Vanguard

https://www.nairaland.com/2094114/how-elections-already-being-rigged

This story also graced Nairaland front page today 15th, January 2015 despite that the rebuttal written by INEC to the first story is yet to be given such exposure.

Seun and all Nairaland mods, be aware that this is how election violence starts.

Vanguard is playing a dirty role here by regularly writing stories that INEC is giving undue advantage to the North, but their submissions are in most times not well grounded. In order not to make this misconception to register on the minds of people, rebuttals to such stories are also to be given good publicity! I don't understand why Nairaland is not doing this.

Seun, Obinoscopy, Lalasticlala, Ikenna351, Afam4eva, ilugunboy, jarus, maclatunji, Ngwakwe, OAM4J, Seun, Ishilove, Mynd44, Omenka, donphilopus, barcanista, Obiagelli


Nairaland mods and Admin pls in the spirit of fair play kindly ensure INEC's rebuttal to this story also has the exposure and publicity that the Vanguard stories were given on Nairaland.

Thanks.

Does it bring traffic?

We really dont bother how true it is.

The above seems to be NL's policy now. I might be wrong though (I doubt)

Vanguard, Tribune and Thisday Newspaper do the hatchet job for jonathan in his deliberate, albeit futile attempt to polarize Nigeria along ethinc/religious lines in order to achieve his inordinate ambition of staying put in power against the wishes of majority of Nigerians! But they will be surely be put to shame by Next month.

My advice to anyone is, to read anything from the above discredited media outlets with a pinch of salt!

Mynd44:
Does it bring traffic?

We really dont bother how true it is.

The above seems to be NL's policy now. I might be wrong though (I doubt)

But you used to ban us when we complained before. No?

Mynd44:
Does it bring traffic?

We really dont bother how true it is.

The above seems to be NL's policy now. I might be wrong though (I doubt)

Wow, in a sensitive election period like this, Nairaland should be bothered about how true the stories they give publicity is!

Clerverly:


But you used to ban us when we complained before. No?

I have never banned anyone for complaining.

I stand corrected sha

Vanguard is particularly notorious for its clearly partisan and destabilising news reports.
This is how newspapers crumble .Where is d tribune today? Its been virtually reduced to a state circulated rather than d national newspaper it used to be.What of NTA? That one has almost been consigned to a TV station u get to watch in d most remotest of villages.All because of crass partisanship and in professionalism.
I know of many PDP stalwarts who would rather read the Punch and the Guardian than vanguard and thisday.
Such reports by d vanguard even ends up alienating GEJ supporters in d north further while strengthening that of GMB.

agabusta:


Wow, in a sensitive election period like this, Nairaland should be bothered about how true the stories they give publicity is!

Well they try their "best" na.

shameful!!!

theV0ice:
shameful!!!

Indeed!

eyesofgod:
This brings to mind the irresponsible journalism surrounding the 1983 elections. Journalisst sacrificed truth on the alter partisanship.

Pls give us a dose of history. Which newspapers played such ignominious roles then?

Vanguard and Nairaland....

Seun Osewa,do not use Nairaland to promote partisan politics. The world is watching.