The National Broadcasting Commission, NBC, has warned broadcast stations to strictly abide by its broadcast code, the Electoral Act, as well as other existing laws governing the coverage and reportage of the 2023 general elections as there are only a few days left before the March 18 Governorship and House of Assembly elections.
At a press conference with members of various media organisations on Wednesday in Abuja, the director general of NBC, Balarabe Ilelah, issued the warning.
Underscoring the need for broadcast stations to be professional in the fulfillment of their duties, Ilelah said that 25 stations were sanctioned by the Broadcasting Corporation in the course of monitoring the 2023 presidential election, while 16 stations have been given a final warning.
The head of the agency confirmed that one station had received a sanction for breaking section 5.33 of the NBC code for airing election results before the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) had made them public.
He said that four stations had received sanctions for making controversial remarks, while 17 stations had received sanctions from NBC for airing partisan party content after the required 24-hour stopping time.
