Umaru Bago, the governor of Niger State, suspended Badeggi FM’s activities, which the African Democratic Congress (ADC) has called undemocratic and an insult to press freedom.
ADC’s national publicity secretary, Bolaji Abdullahi, issued a statement on Saturday that included this information.
He said the governor’s decision was a troubling trend and an example of executive overreach.
“This is blatantly violating the rule of law and attacking journalistic freedom in a way that is reminiscent of a military dictatorship.
He declared, “No one has the authority to restrict these freedoms under any pretext whatsoever under our constitution.”
Abdullahi said that there were provisions in the laws for legitimate redress if the Badeggi FM had behaved unethically in any way or had transgressed the limits of free speech.
He noted that there were also institutions saddled with the responsibility of ensuring compliance.
“Under Section 2(1)(b) of the National Broadcasting Commission (NBC) Act, the power to sanction a radio station rests solely with the NBC—not with any state governor,” he said.
Abdullahi said that the allegation of treason levelled against the radio station was outrageous in every respect.
He added, “The ADC warns that if this act is allowed to stand, it would set a precedent that will further imperil press freedom across the country.
“Today it is Badeggi FM—tomorrow it could be a newspaper, a social media platform, or a journalist asking the ‘wrong questions.
“ Furthermore, the National Assembly must take urgent steps to reinforce the autonomy of the NBC and insulate broadcast regulation from political interference,” Mr Abdullahi said.
