The National Broadcasting Commission, NBC has slammed a fine of five hundred thousand Naira each on two government-owned media outlets in the state for contravening the Nigeria Broadcasting Code.
The affected stations are the Ondo State Radiovision Corporation, OSRC and Orange FM, Akure.
In a letter sent to the stations and obtained by DAILY POST, NBC accused the two media outlets of airing an interview of the state chairman of the People’s Democratic Party, PDP, who was seen praising the state governor, Oluwarotimi Akeredolu less than 24 hours to the March 9 House of Assembly elections in the state.
Faboyede was quoted to have said: “On road construction, we have been saying it, PDP in Ondo state has been saying it that we appreciate him on what he is doing on road construction. Let him finish it up. Let him complete his tenure.
“We are not after his impeachment, intimidation and harassment. Our assembly members will support him,we will not intimidate him ,far from Impeachment. By this time next year,we are already electioneering for governorship.”
In an apparent attempt to score political points ahead of the poll, the management of the stations aired the interview few hours to the election, which contravenes NBC guidelines on election coverage.
The letter which was signed by NBC’s Zonal Director, Henry Asagba also stated that during the interview, the PDP Chairman was putting on the branded face cap of his party’s presidential candidate, Atiku Abubakar.
“Please recall our letters to you on the stated date, October 8, 2018, to attend NBC workshop on political broadcast and October 10, 2018 which was a reminder on the 2019 general elections.
“In spite of these, monitoring reports revealed that your station breached the provisions of the Nigeria Broadcasting Code on political broadcast.
“On Friday, March 8, 2019, between 3:59 pm and 4:04 pm, your station aired the chairman of the PDP in Ondo state making campaign statements.
“This breaches sections 5.2.12 and 5.6.6 of the Nigeria Broadcasting Code,which states that All partisan political broadcast campaign, jingles, announcement and the use of all forms of partisan political parties identifications or symbols on air shall end not later than twenty-four hours before polling day.
“In view of the above, your station has been fined the sum of five hundred thousand Naira (500,000).
“You are requested to pay the fine within two(2) weeks from the date of receipt of the letter to avoid further sanction(s).”
The regulatory body in the letter to the television station said : “On Friday, March 8, 2019, between 2:58 pm and 4:31 pm, your station aired the state chairman of the PDP who on the screen appeared wearing a faze cap with inscription ‘ATIKU ‘ an insignia of PDP against the code.”
“In view of the above your station has been fined the sum of five hundred thousand naira (500,000),” the letter read.
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