#NigeriaDecides2023: Don’t invite guests making ‘volatile comments’, NBC warns broadcast stations

The National Broadcasting Commission (NBC) has warned broadcasts covering the elections against using or allowing their platforms for sharing content that may lead to the breakdown of law and order in Nigeria.

 

Balarabe Ilelah, director-general of NBC, issued the warning in a statement on Monday in Abuja.

 

Ilelah said that the commission had observed that some guests on broadcast stations were making volatile allusions capable of causing unrest in the country.

 

He warned that appropriate sanctions would be meted out to any erring station that operates outside the confines of the Nigeria Broadcasting Code.

 

 “The NBC reminds all broadcasters covering and reporting the 2023 General Elections to endeavor to abide with the provisions of the Extant Electoral Law(s), the Nigeria Broadcasting Code, and other relevant regulations guiding the broadcast of elections in Nigeria,” the statement reads.

 

” For the avoidance of doubt, the Code admonished broadcasters in the following Sections:

 

” 5.3.3(k) not use any vote obtained at a polling station or from an exit poll to project or speculate on the chances of a candidate;

 

” 5.3.3 (l) relay election results or declaration of the winner only as announced by the authorized electoral officer for the election.

 

“The NBC ACT CAP N11, Laws of the Federation, 2004, also prescribes, in the third Schedule 12(6) that, “A licensee shall be responsible for the content of the Station’s Broadcast.”

 

Ilelah emphasised the need for broadcasters to perform the role of peace agents by adhering to the principles of responsibility, accuracy, and neutrality.

 

“The commission, while reminding all broadcast stations by this release that they have a duty to promote sustainable democracy in Nigeria, also warns that appropriate sanctions would be meted out to any erring station,” he added.

 

NBC had earlier warned broadcast stations not to announce election results before the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC).