Feb 14: FG plots shut out of foreign journalists, alleges APC

Feb 14: FG plots shut out of foreign journalists, alleges APC

The President Goodluck Jonathan-led Federal
Government is plotting a media blackout of this
month’s general election in which foreign journalists
will be denied participation, the APC Presidential
Campaign Organisation (APCPCO), has alerted.

APCPCO, in a statement in Abuja on Tuesday,
expressed concern about the frustrations foreign
journalists wishing to cover the February 14
elections are facing in the efforts to secure a
Nigerian visa.

The statement signed by the Director of Media and
Publicity of the campaign, Mallam Garba Shehu, said
the APC leadership has received reports that over 80
foreign journalists are facing frustrations at the
Ministry of Foreign Affairs in their efforts to secure
Nigerian visa to cover the elections.

Shehu explained that international media coverage
of the elections would contribute to transparency
and the need to achieve free and fair elections.

He said frustrating visa applications for foreign
journalists would send a wrong message to the
international community, which might suspect
sinister motives.

He stated further that media coverage is critical to
achieving free and fair elections and that if the
Nigerian government has nothing to hide, it would
be keen to welcome foreign media coverage of the
elections.