Former Vice President Atiku Abubakar has condemned the National Broadcasting Commission's (NBC) recent advisory on broadcast conduct, calling it a threat to media freedom in Nigeria. In a post on X dated April 18, 2026, Atiku described the directive as a "troubling attempt to muzzle the media and shrink the space for free expression," particularly with the 2027 general elections approaching. He emphasized that Nigeria's media has earned global respect for its resilience and professionalism, making the timing of the NBC's action suspicious. Atiku, who was the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) presidential candidate in 2023, stated he stands with broadcast and media platforms resisting what he termed "creeping censorship." He questioned the intent behind the advisory, suggesting it reveals a government more focused on controlling narratives than enabling a free and transparent electoral process. The African Democratic Congress (ADC) leader did not specify particular provisions of the code but criticized its overall tone as indicative of a deeper agenda. Amnesty International also rejected the NBC's notice, calling it "unduly restrictive and invasive" and accusing it of encouraging self-censorship among journalists. On April 17, the NBC had issued a statement citing a "sustained increase" in breaches of the Nigeria Broadcasting Code, especially in news and political programmes. It demanded "strict and uncompromised compliance" with standards on accuracy, balance, and professionalism, warning that violations would attract regulatory sanctions. The commission highlighted issues such as presenters stating personal opinions as facts, denying fair hearing to guests, and spreading hate speech or divisive content.
💡 NaijaBuzz is an AI-assisted news aggregator. This content is curated from third-party sources — NaijaBuzz is not the original publisher and is not responsible for the accuracy of source reporting. The NaijaBuzz Take is AI-assisted editorial opinion only, not established fact. All persons mentioned are presumed innocent until proven guilty by a court of competent jurisdiction. NaijaBuzz does not endorse the views expressed in source articles.
