Poll: NBC warns broadcast stations, threatens sanctions

The National Broadcast Commission has issued a warning to media outlets covering the upcoming elections not to broadcast any material that could destabilize Nigerian peace and order by using their platforms or facilities.

The warning was issued by the director general of NBC, Balarabe Ilelah, in a statement headlined “Warning to broadcast stations” that journalists in Abuja were able to get on Monday night.

The commission cautioned that appropriate consequences would be meted out to any errant station that violates the Nigeria Broadcasting Code while also reminding all broadcast stations of their responsibility to advance sustainable democracy in Nigeria.

The National Broadcasting Commission reminds all broadcasters covering and reporting the general elections of 2023 to try to abide by the provisions of the Extant Electoral Law(s), the Nigeria Broadcasting Code, and other pertinent regulations guiding the broadcast of elections in Nigeria, according to the statement.

The committee added that it had seen guests on television stations make inflammatory remarks that could lead to instability in the nation.

For the sake of clarity, the following Parts of the code warned broadcasters:

5.3.3(k) refrain from projecting or speculating on a candidate’s chances based on any vote acquired at a voting place or from an exit poll; 5.3.3(l) only broadcast election results or the winner’s declaration as made public by the election’s authorized electoral officer; A licensee shall be liable for the content of the Station’s Broadcast, according to the third Schedule 12(6) of the NBC Act CAP N11, Laws of the Federation, 2004.

The commission warns that appropriate punishments would be meted out to any errant station that operates outside the bounds of the Nigeria Broadcasting Code while also reminding all broadcast stations through this statement that they have a responsibility to foster sustainable democracy in Nigeria.

The commission orders all broadcasters to stop using or permitting the use of their platforms and facilities for the transmission of materials that could destabilize law and order.

Hence, through upholding the values of accountability, accuracy, and neutrality, broadcasters are to act as peacemakers.