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SERAP Asks Tinubu To Withdraw NBC’s ‘Unlawful’ Directive To Broadcasters
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The Socio-Economic Rights and Accountability Project (SERAP) has asked President Bola Tinubu to direct the National Broadcasting Commission (NBC) to withdraw its recent directive to broadcasters, describing it as unlawful and repressive.
SERAP, in a letter dated April 18 and signed by its Deputy Director, Kolawole Oluwadare, said the directive “represents a dangerous attempt to impose prior censorship on the media and suppress legitimate journalistic expression”.
It urged Tinubu to ensure that the Minister of Information and National Orientation, Mohammed Idris Malagi, and the NBC “immediately withdraw the unlawful “formal notice “which threatens sanctions against broadcast stations and presenters on vague and unjustified grounds”.
SERAP also called on the government to immediately abstain from imposing prior censorship on broadcast stations and Nigerian journalists and allow them to freely carry out their constitutional responsibilities.
The organisation argued that key provisions cited by the NBC were inconsistent with constitutional guarantees of free expression.
“The Nigerian Constitution and international human rights law protect both the absolute right to hold opinions and the qualified right to express ideas of all kinds. Journalistic opinion is protected expression,” SERAP said.
It further criticised restrictions on presenters’ conduct, noting that, “a blanket prohibition on the expression of ‘personal opinions by anchors and presenters’ amounts to an impermissible restriction”.
According to SERAP, the use of vague standards such as “professionalism” opens the door to abuse.
“The NBC’s reliance on an undefined and subjective standard of ‘professionalism’ introduces vagueness and opens the door to arbitrary enforcement,” it said.
The group warned that the threat of sanctions could have a chilling effect on the media, discouraging critical journalism and public debate.
“The imposition of punitive measures based on vague and broadly defined infractions creates a chilling effect on broadcasters… and undermines democratic discourse,” the letter stated.
SERAP also raised concerns about the timing of the directive ahead of the 2027 general elections.
“Ahead of the 2027 general elections, the NBC’s Formal Notice undermines Nigerians’ democratic rights to receive diverse information, hear competing political viewpoints, and engage in open debate,” it added.
The organisation gave the federal government 48 hours to act, warning that it would pursue legal action if its demands were not met.
The NBC had issued a formal notice on April 17, 2026, citing a rise in unprofessional conduct and warning that it would enforce strict compliance with the Nigeria Broadcasting Code, including sanctions for violations.
Imo State Governor and Chairman of the All Progressives Congress (APC) National Campaign Council for the Osun governorship election, Hope Uzodimma, has responded to singer David Adeleke, also known as Davido, over comments made ahead of the August 15 governorship poll in Osun State.
According to a report by Premium Times, Davido, while addressing supporters in his capacity as head of the youth campaign mobilisation team for Governor Ademola Adeleke, alleged that a politician from Imo State was planning to interfere in the Osun governorship election.
Although the singer did not mention any name, he alleged that the politician intended to use the election as a political battleground to prove a point and urged the individual to allow the people of Osun State to freely choose their preferred candidate.
Reacting in a statement issued on Wednesday by his Senior Special Assistant on Electronic and Creative Media, Ambrose Nwaogwugwu, Uzodimma said Davido’s appeal was misplaced and should instead be directed to the people of Osun State, who would ultimately decide the outcome of the election through their votes.
The governor maintained that, as Chairman of the Progressive Governors’ Forum and the APC National Campaign Council for the Osun election, he had consistently advocated a peaceful, free and credible electoral process.
Uzodimma also stated that the APC would continue to appeal to the conscience of Osun voters to support and elect the party’s governorship candidate, Asiwaju Munirudeen Bola Oyebamiji.
He further claimed that many voters in Osun were prepared to vote out Governor Ademola Adeleke over what he described as the administration’s failure to fulfil its campaign promises.
According to him, indications across the state suggested that a significant number of voters had rejected the current administration and were ready to embrace a new direction by voting for the APC in the August 15 governorship election.
Uzodimma also advised Davido to focus on preparing his uncle for life after office rather than making emotional appeals, insisting that the electorate appeared ready to support the APC candidate.
The Imo governor added that the singer should consider employing Governor Adeleke as a dancer in his music band after the election, expressing confidence that the governor could be out of political office after the governorship poll.
No fewer than five suspected Islamic State West Africa Province (ISWAP) terrorists has been reportedly killed in a premature explosion while assembling explosives in Marte Local Government Area of Borno State.
According to Zagazola Makama, a counter insurgency reporter, the terrorists who died in the explosion include an alleged medical officer and four improvised explosive device (IED) specialists.
Intelligence sources told Zagazola Makama that the incident occurred at Maina Daya Village, located between Sabon Tumbu and Jubilaram, about 29 kilometres east of Monguno.
According to the sources, the explosion killed Usman Dan Fulani, described as an ISWAP medical officer, alongside two foreign Arab IED technicians and two ISWAP bomb-making experts.
The sources said the incident occurred while the terrorists were allegedly preparing improvised explosive devices for deployment, suggesting the group was planning further attacks along key military supply routes in the Sector 1 area of Operation HADIN KAI.
The Clerk to the National Assembly (CNA), Kamoru Ogunlana has described the 2026 House of Representatives Open Week as a vital platform for deepening democratic governance, promoting transparency and strengthening the relationship between Parliament and the Nigerian people.
Speaking at the opening ceremony of the 2026 House of Representatives Open Week in Abuja, the CNA, on behalf of the National Assembly Management, welcomed dignitaries from across the country and commended the leadership of the House for sustaining an initiative that has become a symbol of parliamentary openness and public engagement.
The event attracted a wide range of stakeholders, including the President of the Senate, the Speaker of the House of Representatives, members of the judiciary, lawmakers, representatives of the executive arm of government, diplomats, traditional rulers, religious leaders, civil society organisations, development partners and members of the media.
The event attracted a wide range of stakeholders, including the President of the Senate, the Speaker of the House of Representatives, members of the judiciary, lawmakers, representatives of the executive arm of government, diplomats, traditional rulers, religious leaders, civil society organisations, development partners and members of the media.
According to the CNA, the Open Week has evolved into one of the most significant expressions of democratic participation in Nigeria, providing citizens with an opportunity to understand legislative processes and directly engage with their elected representatives.
He noted that the House of Representatives occupies a unique position within Nigeria’s democratic framework as the chamber with the broadest representation of the people, drawing members from every federal constituency across the country.
“The House serves as the closest legislative institution to the people, translating local aspirations into national policies and legislation,” he said.
Osun guber: Your uncle will soon become jobless get him one – Uzodimma mocks Davido
Five ISWAP bombs reportedly wasted as IED suddenly explodes in Borno
HoR open week will bridge gap between legislature and Nigerians-CNA
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