The National Broadcast Commission has organized a Sensitization Forum on Political Broadcasting tagged Towards a fair & Responsible Broadcast Coverage of the 2023 General Elections: A Multi Stakeholders Dialogue across different locations in the country. The forum was held in Lagos on Wednesday 21 September 2022 and hosted electoral stakeholders and members of the press.  The Forum focused on the need for broadcast stations to uphold the code of broadcasting and adhere strictly to the provisions of the 2022 Electoral Act as Nigeria prepares for the 2023 general elections.

The Director-General of the National Broadcasting Commission, Balarabe Shehu Ilelah admonished politicians and electoral stakeholders in the elections to allow broadcasters to do their job without interference or pressure from the stakeholders as campaigns begin on 28 September 2022. Ilelah urged broadcast stations to give increased prime time allocation to political programmes while ensuring equal and quality time is given to political parties without bias. Programme presenters and producers were also charged to ensure political and tribal sensitivity in all programmes and reportage as we draw closer to the elections.

Dr Peter Afunanya, spokesperson for the Department of State Services(DSS) urged broadcast journalists to carry out proper research on guests and analysts while noting the need for journalists to shun hate speeches, inciteful, tribalistic and malicious comments from analysts that could disturb National Security. The Lagos State Commissioner of Police CP Abiodun Alabi represented by the state Police Public Relations Officer, Benjamin Hundeyin reiterated the commitment of the force to ensuring a peaceful and fair election in Lagos state while urging the NBC to devise methods to censor the free flow of false information being disseminated on social media. The youths were also urged to shun electoral violence and avoid giving in to the gimmicks of politicians.

RA Yusuf, a veteran broadcaster urged broadcast journalists to uphold the ethics of the profession even against the will of the management as some station owners use their platform to carry out their personal interests. The Chairman, The Nigeria Union of Journalists Lagos Council, Ajayi Adeleye tasked the NBC on the safety of journalists and prayed NBC to be fair in its judgment and sanctions on broadcast stations.

Esther Alaribe
Women Radio 91.7
news@wfm917.com