Anambra guber: Don’t use polling unit votes to project election outcome, NBC warns broadcasters

The National Broadcasting Commission (NBC) has warned media houses covering the Anambra governorship election against broadcasting projections based on results obtained at polling units.

The election is scheduled to hold on Saturday.

It is not uncommon for media houses to make projections on who will win an election based on calculations from available results.

However, according to a statement issued on Thursday by Balarabe Ilelah, director-general of the NBC, broadcasters are not allowed to make such speculations for the governorship election.

“The National Broadcasting Commission reminds all broadcasters covering the Anambra State Gubernatorial Election to take note of the provisions of the Extant Electoral Law(s), the Nigeria Broadcasting Code, and other relevant regulations guiding the broadcast of elections in Nigeria,” the statement reads.

The NBC asked broadcasters to “not use any vote obtained at a polling station or from an exit poll to project or speculate on the chances of a candidate”.

The commission also said broadcasters should “ensure that language or scene likely to encourage or incite crime, or lead to disorder, is not broadcast”, just as there are also expected to “not transmit divisive materials that may threaten or compromise the indivisibility and indissolubility of Nigeria as a sovereign state”.

Broadcasters were also warned against publishing results not announced by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC).

According to the NBC, there will be “severe penalty” for any broadcaster that breaches the provisions listed in the statement.