‘Assault on press freedom’ — PDP reps tackle NBC for querying Channels TV

The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) members in the house of representatives have condemned the query issued to Channels TV by the  National Broadcasting Commission (NBC).

The broadcasting regulator had queried the TV station over an interview granted to Samuel Ortom, governor of Benue state.

While appearing as a guest on Sunrise Daily on Tuesday, Ortom had criticised President Muhammadu Buhari’s administration, noting that the federal government’s decision to review grazing reserves across the country is “unconstitutional”.

Subsequently, the NBC, in a letter signed by Balarabe Ilelah, its director-general, said Channels TV violated six of its codes during the broadcast of the interview.

NBC had said the comments of the governor were “divisive, inciting and unfair”, adding that Channels TV anchors did not “thoroughly interrogate” Ortom.

The commission also asked Channels TV to explain why it should not be sanctioned.

Reacting on Friday, PDP lawmakers said the query is an “assault on press freedom” aimed at intimidating “dissenting voices”.

“We must first register our deep concern that whilst the nation drifts into a near Hobbesian state amidst the raging insecurity currently engulfing the nation, the daily carnage experienced across Benue and Plateau States and elsewhere in the country, kidnappings of innocent citizens including school children, to the unprecedented violent attack on the National Defence Academy, one of the most hallowed symbols of Nigeria’s sovereignty, the government of President Muhammadu Buhari is preoccupied with hounding perceived enemies of the administration and stifling the press, acts which are antithetical to democratic ethos,” Kingsley Chinda, leader of the PDP caucus, said in a statement.

“Certainly, there are more pressing issues demanding statecraft and leadership than the hounding of journalists and repression of the media merely on account of interviews granted by opposition figures.”

Chinda said the caucus had challenged the provisions of the broadcasting code invoked against Channels TV in a federal high court, adding that the matter has not been ruled on.

“Nigerians would recall that the legality of the Broadcasting Code, invoked by the NBC against Channels Television, is still a matter of contention before the Federal High Court, Abuja Division in Suit No: FHC/SUIT NO: FHC/ABJ/CS/1136/2020 between Rep. Kingsley Chinda & 8 Ors (for themselves and on behalf of the PDP Caucus House of Reps) v. Minister of Information & 2 Ors,” he said.

“Convinced that the enactment of the 6th Amended Nigeria Broadcasting Code was an affront on the fundamental freedoms guaranteed by Chapter IV of the 1999 Constitution (as amended) and the African Charter on Human and Peoples Rights, this Caucus approached the Federal High Court for judicial pronouncements as to the legality or otherwise of the said Code and the validity of its application by the NBC.

“This matter is still pending before the Court. Parties have filed their submissions and the matter is further slated for Notwithstanding the pendency of the above matter, the NBC is unrelenting in its brazen application of the Broadcasting Code for the purpose of stifling free speech and gagging the print and electronic media across the Country.

“This no doubt is geared to protect the palpable inefficiencies of the present administration; intimidate dissenting voices and erode standard democratic ethos.”

The lawmakers also called for an “immediate and unconditional release of any journalist arrested and/or detained by any law enforcement agency simply for exercising his/her journalistic license”.