In a move that appears to contradict earlier reports that the Cable Network News, CNN, had been refusing explicit vote-canvassing advertisements from Nigerian politicians in the build up to the 2015 general elections, DailyPost on Thursday watched a campaign airing the “change” message of the All Progressives Congress (APC) on the network.
The party proved successful in beating the strict political advertising conditions set by the American international news channel as it failed to canvass votes in the TV commercial, but showed a series of achievements in states where its governors held sway in a veiled pitch for Nigeria’s 2015 general elections.
The campaign, which was timed one minute, begins with the showcasing of the images of great Nigerian icons, among who were, Obafemi Awolowo, Ahmadu Bello and Nnamdi Azikiwe.
This was followed by a group photograph of the APC governors with a line that identifies them after which came a mention of what they have achieved in their states. The accomplishments listed include the Lekki-Ikoyi bridge in Lagos, hospitals in Rivers and free education in Kano.
The video then concludes with several brooms merging, with the message “Change for Democracy” signing it off.
It will be recalled that the online medium, The Cable had quoted the account manager of CNN International, Ashley Hogan-Gancarz, who held that her medium never accepted political or religious advertising as a result of industry regulations, stressing that, “If you want to promote investment opportunities, etc. that would be fine but nothing to do with politics or the 2015 election,” she had said.
By scaling the CNN advert hurdle, APC may have opened the floodgate that would see other political parties engaging top-notch advertising agencies to produce more creatively-maneuvered campaigns that would still be selling the parties on CNN International considered to be Nigerian elites’ favourite.
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