The Buhari administration in conjunction with the Nigerian Broadcasting Commission has come under fire from press freedom advocates over the decision to impose a fine of N5 million on Channels TV for airing an interview with Labour Party’s Vice Presidential candidate, Datti Baba-Ahmed.
The Nigerian Broadcasting Commission (NBC) stated that the television station violated the broadcasting code in a March 27 letter addressed to Channels’ Chief Executive Officer.
The letter, titled “Broadcast of an Inciting Interview, A Sanction,” was signed by the commission’s Director-General, Balarabe Ilelah.
The letter to Channels TV read in part: “The NBC monitored the broadcast of a live interview of the running mate of the Labour Party Vice presidential candidate, Dr. Datti Baba-Ahmed, by the anchor of Politics Today, Seun Okibaloye, on Wednesday, March 22.
“Dr. Baba-Ahmed said it will be unconstitutional to swear in an elected president on May 29, 2023, because of election irregularities,” said Ilelah in the letter.
The letter further stated that the broadcast was volatile and had the potential to incite public disorder, and thus violated some sections of the broadcasting code.
This, he claims, includes the section that states that no broadcast shall encourage or incite, be repugnant to public feelings, contain offensive references to any person or organization, living or dead, or be generally disrespectful to human dignity.
According to the broadcasting code, broadcasters must ensure that no program contains anything that amounts to subversion of constituted authority, according to Ilelah.
He recalled that the NBC had several times asked Channels Television to consider the public interest before broadcasting a program.
This, he claimed, was to prevent the country from devolving into anarchy.
“Consequently, on the following infractions, Channels Television is hereby sanctioned and shall pay a penalty of N5,000,000 (five million naira) only in the first instance,” he said.
He also stated that any future violations by the television station would result in harsher penalties.
“You are advised to pay within two weeks from the day of receipt of this letter or the penalty will be graduated,” the NBC Director-General said.
The Buhari administration has been widely criticised for this action as it is seen as a means of censoring the media and restricting press freedom. Many point to the fact that the action of the NBC is directed by a petition signed by Bayo Onanuga, presidential campaign council Director of Media and Publicity for the All Progressives Congress, dated March 30, 2023.
“In line with Section 14.0.1 of the Nigerian Broadcasting Code 6th edition stating the duty of the commission to accept complaints from aggrieved persons, bodies, or members of the public and investigate as well as apply sanctions where necessary, the APC PCC hereby petitions the commission on breaches by CHANNELS TV on its programme ‘Politics Today’ last week,” Tinubu’s party said in the petition.
The Nigerian president-elect accused the Labour Party Vice Presidential candidate of making various comments that questioned the integrity of the presidential elections on February 25, 2023.
The Labour Party has been very vocal in questioning the integrity of the last Nigerian presidential elections and has submitted petitions to this effect, which are currently before the court of appeal.
