Polls: NTA, AIT, TVC, others found guilty of breaching broadcasting code

The National Broadcasting Commission on Monday released the list of broadcasting stations that contravened the provisions of the Nigeria Broadcasting Code from the beginning of electioneering campaign to date.
A statement signed by the commission’s Director/Head, Public Affairs, Alhaji Awwalu Salihu, in Abuja, said the contraventions included breaches of the rules on the broadcast of sponsored campaign materials.
Other breaches were the airing of campaign materials or programmes that promoted political parties or candidates within the 24-hour prohibited period, as well as unauthorised networking by a group of stations.
The statement said NTA breached the sensibilities rules while AIT and NTA both breached the rules on airing sponsored materials.
According to the statement, Rima Radio, Sokoto and BSES in Ekiti State defaulted on denial of access.
The statement further said that 15 stations nationwide breached the code for advertising and promoting a political party after campaigns had stopped 24 hours to election time.
The stations included Liberty TV, Liberty FM, Karama FM, Alheri FM, NTA, AIT, Rima Radio, STV Lagos, TVC Lagos, NTV, PRTV, Jos, NTA Makurdi, Vision FM and Nigeria Info.
Others were BECOS TV, NTA Jos, Gombe Media Corporation Radio FM, OSBC TV and Freedom TV Ilesha.
According to the statement, all the stations involved had been either queried or outrightly sanctioned, according to the provisions of the Nigerian Broadcasting Code.