The Code of Conduct advisory issued by the National Broadcasting Commission has sparked fresh outrage, with former Vice President Atiku Abubakar warning that it represents a dangerous attempt to muzzle the media and shrink the space for free expression in Nigeria.
“Our media industry has grown into a formidable institution, respected globally for its resilience and professionalism,” Atiku said, expressing concern that the NBC repeatedly rolls out restrictive measures whenever elections approach. “It is therefore alarming that, each time elections approach, the NBC resorts to heavy-handed directives that do more to silence dissent than to uphold ethical journalism.”
Throwing his weight behind broadcasters and digital platforms pushing back against the directive, he declared: “I stand firmly with Nigeria’s broadcast industry and all media platforms resisting this creeping censorship.”
Atiku insisted that ethical journalism cannot be selectively enforced, stressing: “Let it be clear: ethical standards are not seasonal tools to be weaponised during campaigns, they are constant obligations.”
He further questioned the intent behind the timing of the advisory, warning that it raises serious concerns about the integrity of the electoral environment. “The timing and tone of these regulations expose a deeper agenda.
It signals a government more interested in controlling narratives than permitting a free, fair, and transparent electoral process.”
