Tinubu petitions NBC, wants Channels TV sanctioned
Bola Ahmed-Tinubu, President-elect has petitioned the National Broadcasting Commission (NBC) urging it to sanction Channels Television for allegedly breaching the Nigerian Broadcasting Code.
In a petition dated 30th March, 2023, the APC campaign Congress petitioned Channels TV on what it considers breaches by Television channel last week on its programme ‘Politics Today’ which airs daily at 7pm on weekdays.
Furthermore, the petition reads that in line with Section 14.0.1 of the Nigerian Broadcasting Code 6th edition, the duty of the National Broadcasting Commission is to accept complaints from aggrieved persons, bodies or members of the public and investigate as well as apply sanctions where necessary.
In addition, the APC Presidential Campaign Council accused the Labour Party (LP) Vice Presidential candidate, Datti Baba-Ahmed of making several sensitive comments impugning the integrity of the 25 February 2023 Presidential elections.
In the petition signed by the Director, Media and Publicity, Mr Bayo Onanuga on behalf of the Special Adviser, Media, Public Affairs and Communications, the petition accused Channels TV of giving in to fallacy.
Also, APC declared that in asking the President not to swear in the President-elect, that Datti is subverting the Independent National Electoral Commission INEC’s constitutionally guaranteed authority.
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Part of the petition against Channels TV
This is in breach of Section 5.3.3(b) which states that – ‘A Broadcaster shall avoid inflammatory and divisive matters in its provocative form in using political material’.
“Furthermore, Section 3.0.2.1 states that- ‘No Broadcaster shall encourage or incite to crime, lead to public disorder or hate, or repugnant to public feelings’ materials that cause disaffection.
“By denying the authenticity of the INEC Presidential election results Mr Datti is at liberty to seek for the voiding of the results, but until the court or tribunal upturns those results they remain the authentic results. Channels TV cannot encourage him to use its platform to create anarchy by disputing results on air without corroborating his facts.
“In asking the President not to swear in the President-elect he is subverting the Independent National Electoral Commission INEC’s constitutionally guaranteed authority.
“In using words like ‘handing over to the President-elect Bola Ahmed Tinubu will be the end of democracy’ he is not only promoting a threat but instigating a call to rebellion against the state. This is antithetical to the use of the media for social harmony and peaceful
It is our considered opinion that the guest Datti Baba-Ahmed was not only provocative but also inciting the public and the Labour Party followers to delegitimise the outcome of the elections but also propagate resistance against the incoming dully elected administration. of Bola Ahmed-Tinubu and Kashim Shettima.
“We therefore urge the Commission to invoke the necessary sanctions on Channels TV for the breaches enumerated above.”
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