Group accuses Governor Abiodun of monopolizing state owned media in favour of APC

The Governor of Ogun State has been accused of monopolising the usage of the state own media, Ogun State Television for the benefits of his political campaign at the expense of others

A Group of Concerned Indigenes of Ogun State led by a legal practitioner, Femi Oniyide made the accusation on Thursday at a press conference held at Iwe-Iroyin Press Centre, Abeokuta.

Barrister Oniyide therefore, declared that the group will not allow the television station to muscle out other political parties and candidates.

The group noted that the development completely violates the tenets and spirit of fair and credible election, which starts with the constitutionality guaranteed right of freedom of speech, which the electoral act and the Nigerian Broadcasting Code seems to protect.

According to Oniyide, “the broadcasting code and electoral act does not give the sitting Governor the exclusive right to take control of the airwaves to the detriment of other contending political parties in their campaign to the electorate”.

The group noted that the action of the television station violates section 7.6,3 a, d,e,f,g and h of the Nigerian Broadcasting Code, 6th edition of 2016,stressing that for the avoidance of doubt, section 95(2) of electoral act stated that the state apparatus including the media shall not be applied to the advantage or disadvantage of any political party or candidate at any election.

His words; “This subsection of the electoral act is in tandem with section 7.6.3(h) of the broadcasting code, 6th edition. Also section 95(3) of the electoral act ,is in tandem with section 7.6.3(e) of the broadcasting code which also states that media time shall be allocated equally among the political parties and candidates at similar hours of the day”.

The group therefore, gave the television station seven days ultimatum to address the points raised, else the management will be dragged to higher authorities to evoke the penalties in the electoral act and the broadcasting code in accordance with its section 7.6.6.

“We have observed that what we see daily on various broadcast stations of Ogun State government, especially OGTV station, are mainly the campaign jingles, adverts and discussion on the candidacy of the sitting Governor, H.E Prince Dapo Abiodun for second term and other candidates contesting under the platform of the All Progressives Congress(APC).

“We as stakeholders in Ogun State, hereby give OGTV, 7 days to abide by the spirit and letters of the law or we would approach higher authorities to evoke the penalties in the electoral act and the broadcasting code”, he added.

“We as critical stakeholders that wants the best for our dear state and its people, do by this present press conference, ask OGTV to open up its airwaves to other political parties and candidates”, the body posited.

On the naira notes scarcity, the group called on the state government to put collection centres in order to ameliorate the suffering of the people, adding that residents would know what to do after setting up the old naira notes collection points.

“We hereby implore the Governor to put up collection points for old naira notes in order to ameliorate the sufferings of the people. We believe they should know what to do after setting up the old naira collection points. We have hereby helped them to start the thought process for good governance”, Oniyide emphasised

In swift reaction by Chief Press Secretary to the Governor, Kunle Somorin denied the accusation, and asked if the said opposition parties ever approached the television station for such request, emphasizing that there was no censorship as being speculated by the group

“That is not true. Did they approach OGTV for coverage? I am not aware of such censorship. It is the same way smaller parties accused bigger parties at the national level”, the Chief Press Secretary said on behalf of the government.