NBC to Sanction Stations over Inflammatory Political Broadcasts

National Broadcasting Commission (NBC), on Monday, said it would not relent in sanctioning broadcast stations that used inflammatory materials in their political broadcasts.

Emeka Mba, director-general of the Commission, in a statement in Abuja, said that some stations operate in a manner that could become counter-productive to the national objective of peaceful, free and fair elections.

He said “we have already written to those stations to desist and are still considering further sanctions in line with the provisions of the law.’’

Mba stressed the need for broadcast stations to join the efforts toward violence-free pre and post election seasons, as well as free and fair elections in 2015.

“We believe that broadcasting stations can only contribute to this when all programmes adhere to the general principles of legality, decency and truthfulness.

“A broadcaster shall, in using political material for news, avoid taking inflammatory and divisive matter in its provocative form.’’

Meanwhile, political campaigns were underway as the country was agog with politicians going round to persuade the electorate to support them at the polls.