The Nigerian Guild of Editors (NGE) has expressed concern over the shutdown of four broadcast stations by Zamfara State Governor Bello Matawalle.
The broadcast stations are: the Nigerian Television Authority (NTA), Gamji Television, Alumna Television and Pride FM, all located in Gusau, the state capital.
The guild urged the governor to immediately unseal the broadcast stations.
The Zamfara State government, on Saturday, shut down the stations for allegedly covering a rally by the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) governorship candidate in the state, Dr. Dauda Lawan Dare.
The state government claimed that the rally was held despite its ban on campaigns due to the security challenges in the state.
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But in a statement yesterday by NGE President Mustapha Isah and the General Secretary Iyobosa Uwugiaren, the umbrella body of Nigerian editors described the action as illegal and a violation of the nation’s constitution and other international instruments.
The guild said the only government agency that is charged with the constitutional mandate of regulating the broadcast stations or determining any infraction in the conduct of broadcasting industry is the National Broadcasting Commission (NBC).
“While the NGE doesn’t even want to go into the illegality of the ban on political activities in that state, our primary concern here is the unlawful and unconstitutional action of the governor against the affected stations for carrying out their constitutional and social obligations – of reporting events and keeping the citizens informed of political developments in the state.
“In fact, the shut stations would have been accused of unprofessional misconduct if they didn’t cover that rally. We are also encouraged by the fact that the regulatory agency of broadcasting, the NBC, has also condemned the unlawful action of Governor Matawalle,” the NGE added.