The National Broadcasting Commission, NBC has ordered the immediate shut down of the Ekiti state broadcasting service for infractions of the Nigeria broadcasting Code and the Electoral Act.
The Head, Public Affairs, Maimuna Jimada (Mrs.), in a statement on Sunday, said that the Commission took this decision after unauthorized declaration of the governorship election results by the state Governor Mr. Ayodele Fayose on the Ekiti State Broadcasting stations.
The Commission further noted the Governor went on air to make malicious and unsubstantiated claims against the Independent National Electoral Commission, the Nigerian Police and the Department of Security Services. The station will remain shut down till further notice.
According to the statement, “The Commission had on Tuesday 5th June queried the station’s Acting Director General, Mr. Lere Olayinka who is doubling as the spokesman for the PDP campaign organisation in breach of Section 5.2.18 of the Nigeria Broadcasting Code in letters to the Station and the State Government. Both letters were ignored by the recipients.
“The Ekiti State Broadcasting Service on Wednesday 11th July, 2018 was found in breach of sections 5.2.7 and 5.2.8 of the Code for which it was reprimanded and fined N500,000 by the Commission.
“The Director General, Mal. Is’haq Modibbo Kawu wishes to re-emphasize that all broadcasters must adhere strictly to the ethics of the profession in conducting all programmes on their stations in respect to the Nigeria Broadcasting Code, the National Broadcasting Act CAP N11 Laws of the Federation, 2004 and the Electoral Act”.
Furthermore, Kawu again drew the attention of all, to the some sections of the Nigeria Broadcasting Code:
3.1.2 which states that:
Materials likely to incite or encourage to the commission of a crime or lead to public disorder shall not be broadcast
5.2.15 which states that:
A broadcaster shall broadcast election results or declaration of the winner only as announced by the authorized electoral officer for the election.
The Commission also reminded Broadcasters that the Social Media is not an official source for release of election results.
“The NBC wishes to reiterate that broadcasting stations must ensure proper gate keeping and professionalism in all programmes transmitted on their stations as the Commission would impose severe sanctions for any breach of the Broadcasting Code” the statement concluded.
