The National Broadcasting Commission (NBC) has issued a warning to broadcast stations in Nigeria to strictly adhere to the broadcast code, the Electoral Act, and other relevant laws governing the coverage and reportage of the 2023 general elections.
The Director General of NBC, Mister Balarabe Ilelah, delivered the warning during a press conference in Abuja on Wednesday, ahead of the March 18 governorship and state assembly elections. Several representatives from media organizations were present at the conference.
Ilelah emphasized the need for professionalism in the discharge of duties by broadcast stations. He revealed that during the 2023 presidential election monitoring exercise, NBC sanctioned 25 stations for violating the broadcasting code. Furthermore, 16 stations received a final warning. One station was sanctioned for announcing the election results before the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) declared them, which violated section 5.33 of the NBC code.
Additionally, 17 stations received sanctions for broadcasting partisan party content after the prescribed 24-hour stoppage time by NBC. Meanwhile, four stations were sanctioned for making divisive comments.
The NBC Director General urged all broadcast stations to comply with the broadcasting code and other relevant laws to ensure that the 2023 general elections receive balanced and unbiased media coverage. The NBC will continue to monitor broadcast stations throughout the elections to ensure that all regulations are followed.
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