Shutdown of four broadcast stations in Zamfara threat to democracy, says Guild of Editors
• Demands immediate unsealing of stations
Nigerian Guild of Editors (NGE) has expressed concern over the shutdown of four broadcast stations: NTA, Gamji Television, Alumna Television and Pride FM Station (all located in Gusau, the Zamfara State capital) by Governor Bello Matawalle, calling on him to immediately unseal the offices.
The Zamfara State government, on Saturday, shut down the stations for covering a rally held by the PDP governorship candidate in the state, Dr. Dauda Lawan Dare.
It claimed the rally was organised despite a ban on campaigns by the state government over alleged security situation.
But in a statement issued, yesterday, and signed by NGE’s President, Mustapha Isah, and General Secretary, Iyobosa Uwugiaren, the guild described the action as illegal and a violation of the Nigerian constitution and other international instruments.
It stated that the only government agency charged with the constitutional mandate of regulating broadcast stations or determining any infraction in the conduct of broadcasting is the National Broadcasting Commission (NBC).
“While the NGE doesn’t even want to go into the illegality of the ban on political activities in that state, our primary concern here is the unlawful and unconstitutional action of the state governor against the affected stations for carrying out their constitutional and social obligations of reporting events and keeping citizens informed on political developments in the state.
“In fact, the shut stations would have been accused of unprofessional misconduct if they didn’t cover that rally. We are also encouraged by the fact that the regulatory agency of broadcasting, the NBC, has also condemned the unlawful action of Governor Bello Matawalle,” NGE said.
Condemning the governor’s action in its entirety, the guild described it as a serious threat to democratic process and democracy, stressing that it is a precarious signal to what awaits the media ahead of the 2023 general elections.
According to the NGE, “the media reserves the right to cover all events, whether or not they are banned. No state government reserves the right to shut down any media house, in spite of their perceived infractions.
“In this case, the Zamfara State governor should have written a petition to the NBC, if at all the affected stations committed any infraction, instead of resorting to self-help.
“The guild stands for press freedom and freedom of expression and will always speak out against any attempt to muzzle the media.”
The editors explained that the human right most closely related to the media is freedom of opinion and expression.
It said freedom of expression, as upheld in the Constitution and human rights instruments, covers the right to receive or impart information.
Describing the media as “oxygen of democracy,” NGE reiterated its earlier position that the media is not an opponent of any government, but a professional institution charged with the constitutional obligation of monitoring the activities of the government and holding it accountable to the citizens.
