Buhari
The All Progressives Congress, APC, presidential flag bearer, General Muhammadu Buhari (rtd) has threatened to institute a legal action against the Nigerian Television Authority, NTA, and the Africa Independent Television, AIT, for airing hate broadcasts against his personality.
This is coming on a day the National Broadcasting Commission, NBC, cautioned all broadcasting stations operating in the country to adhere strictly to the provisions of the broadcasting code or risk sanctions.
Buhari in a protest letter lodged through the APC Presidential Campaign Organization, APCPCO’s Legal Director, Mr. Chukwuma-Machukwu Ume, SAN, insisted that the two television stations must not only retract the “hate documentaries,” but also issue a public apology to him.
He threatened not to hesitate seeking legal remedy should the television houses refuse to comply with the conditions. Buhari revealed that “The hate broadcast was on from Saturday, January 24, 2015 to Sunday, January 25, 2015, at 11pm in AIT.”
The APC candidate asserted that he had already petitioned the Nigerian Broadcasting Commission, NBC, and the National Human Rights Commission, NHRC, asking them to investigate both NTA and AIT over the hate broadcasts and take necessary punitive actions.
Meanwhile, The National Broadcasting Commission, NBC, in its warning to broadcast stations acknowledged the effort broadcasting stations were making in lubricating the nation’s political space, but noted that some stations had been operating outside the provisions of the code in a manner that could become counter-productive to the national objectives of peaceful, free and fair elections.
According to the Director-General of the Commission, Mr. Emeka Mba, who issued the warning said, “We are in exciting times. Political campaigns are underway and the nation is agog with politicians campaigning to persuade the electorate to support them, this is how it should be, that is the beauty of democracy.”
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