The National Broadcasting Commission (NBC) has slammed a fine of N5 million on Channels Television for breaking the broadcasting law in a programme with the vice-presidential candidate of the Labour Party (LP), Dr Datti Baba-Ahmed.
This was contained in a letter addressed to the Chief Executive Officer of Channels TV and dated March 27, a copy of which was obtained on Friday.
The letter titled ‘Broadcast of an Inciting Interview, A Sanction’, was signed by the NBC Director-General, Balarabe Ilelah.
The letter partly read: “The NBC 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.
“Dr Baba-Ahmed said it will be unconstitutional to swear in an elected president on May 29, 2023, because of election irregularities.”
Ilelah noted that the broadcast was volatile and capable of inciting public disorder, stressing that it violated some sections of the broadcasting code.
This, according to him, includes the section that said no broadcast shall encourage, or incite, be repugnant to public feelings or contain offensive reference to any person or organisation, alive or dead or generally be disrespectful to human dignity.
The NBC boss added that according to the broadcasting code, broadcasters shall ensure that no programme contained anything which amounted to subversion of constituted authority.
READ ALSO: APC campaign asks NBC to fine Channels TV over Baba-Ahmed’s ‘no President-elect’ remark
He recalled that NBC engaged Channels Television severally to consider public interest before any programme is broadcast.
This, he said, was to ensure that the country was not plunged into anarchy.
“Consequently, on the following infractions, Channels Television is hereby sanctioned and shall pay a penalty of N5,000,000 (five million naira) only in the first instance,” he said.
Ilelah added that any further infraction by the television station would attract higher sanctions.
“You are advised to pay within two weeks from the day of receipt of this letter or the penalty will be graduated,” the NBC DG stated.
It would be recalled that the All Progressives Congress (APC) Presidential Campaign Council, on Thursday, March 30 asked NBC to fine Channels TV over comments credited to Baba-Ahmed.
The APC Presidential Campaign Council described as a “case of unguarded utterance” the statement by Baba-Ahmed on Channels TV programme, Politics Today, that if “President Buhari should hand over to the President-elect, Bola Ahmed Tinubu, by May 29, that would be the end of democracy”.
The campaign council stressed that Baba-Ahmed’s comments are not only “divisive, subversive, but also inciting and inflammatory”.
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