The National Broadcasting Commission (NBC) has fined Channels Television the sum of N5million over an interview with Datti Baba-Ahmed, Labour Party Vice Presidential candidate.
The letter dated March 27, and addressed to Channels Chief Executive Officer accused the TV station of violating the broadcasting code.
In the letter signed by Balarabe Ilelah, the commission’s Director-General, the NBC noted that it monitored the broadcast of a live interview of the running mate of the Labour Party Vice presidential candidate, Dr Datti Baba-Ahmed, by the anchor of Politics Today, Seun Okibaloye, on Wednesday, March 22.
The letter cited the exact words of Datti Baba-Ahmed:
“Dr Baba-Ahmed said it will be unconstitutional to swear in an elected president on May 29, 2023, because of election irregularities,”
He noted that the broadcast was volatile and capable of inciting public disorder which violated some sections of the broadcasting code.
Mr Ilelah added that according to the broadcasting code, broadcasters shall ensure that no program contained anything which amounted to subversion of constituted authority.
He recalled that the NBC had engaged Channels Television severally to consider public interest before any program is broadcast to forestall the outbreak of anarchy in the country. Finally, the letter indicated that any further infraction by the television station would attract higher sanctions.
Recall that the president-elect, Bola Ahmed Tinubu wrote a petition to the NBC seeking that Channels Television should be sanctioned for not calling Datti to order during the interview.
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