By Uche Onyeali
Former Vice President Atiku Abubakar has described the recent advisory issued by the National Broadcasting Commission, NBC, as an attempt to stifle free expression and silence dissent in the media.
The NBC had on Saturday warned presenters against presenting opinions as facts or intimidating guests.
The commission also warned that as Nigeria enters a critical electoral period, the airwaves must not be used to propagate misinformation.
Reacting to the warning in a post on X on Saturday night, the former vice president said the code of conduct advisory is “yet another troubling attempt to muzzle the media and shrink the space for free expression in Nigeria.”
Atiku said the country’s media industry has grown into a formidable institution, respected globally for its resilience and professionalism, adding that it is “alarming” that the NBC resorts to “heavy-handed directives” whenever elections approach.
“I stand firmly with Nigeria’s broadcast industry and all media platforms resisting this creeping censorship,” Atiku said
Noting that ethical standards in journalism should not be “seasonal tools to be weaponised during campaigns,” the former vice president said the timing and tone of the regulations suggest a deeper agenda.
Atiku accused the government of being more interested in controlling the narrative than in ensuring a free, fair and transparent electoral process.
The NBC directive came amid heightened political activity ahead of the 2027 general election.
The ruling All Progressives Congress, APC, is expected to field President Bola Tinubu for re-election, while opposition figures have joined forces in the African Democratic Congress, ADC.
The key opposition stakeholders are Atiku, who recently indicated that the race could be his final presidential bid, alongside the 2023 presidential candidate of Labour Party; Peter Obi, former governor of Kano State; Rabiu Kwankwaso, former Kaduna State governor; Nasir el-Rufai, and former Rivers State governor, Rotimi Amaechi.
The opposition has framed the coalition as a strategy to strengthen electoral competition and challenge the dominance of the ruling party.