Former Vice President Atiku Abubakar has fired back at the National Broadcasting Commission over a recent code of conduct advisory to broadcasters, accusing the regulatory body of using the directive to silence opposition voices and muzzle the press ahead of the 2027 general elections.
In a statement dated April 17, the NBC said it had observed a “sustained increase” in breaches of the Nigeria Broadcasting Code, especially in news and political programmes, and warned broadcasters to uphold “accuracy, balance, and professionalism” as the country approaches a crucial electoral period.
The commission cited declining standards including presenters who “express personal opinions as fact,” deny fair hearing, or intimidate guests, and also flagged the misuse of platforms to spread “hate speech” and “divisive content.” It stressed that violations would “attract regulatory sanctions” and that compliance was “mandatory, not discretionary.”
Reacting sharply on Saturday 18th April, via his verified X handle, Atiku described the advisory as “yet another troubling attempt to muzzle the media and shrink the space for free expression in Nigeria,” arguing that Nigeria’s media industry has grown into a formidable institution respected globally for its resilience and professionalism.
“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. I stand firmly with Nigeria’s broadcast industry and all media platforms resisting this creeping censorship,” he said.
Atiku further maintained that ethical journalism standards should not be selectively enforced or “weaponised during campaigns,” insisting that the timing and tone of the NBC’s directive raise deeper concerns.
“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,” he added.
Atiku was not alone in pushing back. According to Channels Television, Amnesty International also described the NBC notice as “an attempt to pressure journalists and media organisations into self-censorship,” while the Socio-Economic Rights and Accountability Project, SERAP, asked President Tinubu to withdraw what it called the commission’s “unlawful” directive to broadcasters.
The NBC directive comes amid heightened political activity ahead of the 2027 general elections, with the ruling All Progressives Congress expected to field President Bola Tinubu for re-election.
