ABEOKUTA — Ahead of the 2023 general elections, the Concerned Indigenes of Ogun state has frowned at the brazen monopoly of the state television (OGTV) by the incumbent governor, Dapo Abiodun for campaign, leaving out other political parties.
This move according to the group is against the letters and spirit of Section 95 of the electoral act and section 7.6.3 of the Nigerian Broadcasting code, 6th edition, in relation to airtime for opposition political parties.
The group, led by Barr. Femi Oniyide expressed displeasure over the alleged partisanship and refusal of the Ogun state Television (OGTV) to use the campaign jingles and adverts by the opposition parties in the state.
Addressing newsmen at the NUJ secretariat, Iwe irohin hall, Oke Ilewo Abeokuta, Oniyide emphasized that, the action of the station is contrary to section 95 subsection 2,3,4 and 5 of the electoral act, 2022, with the penalty stipulated for breach in section 95 (6) of the act
He added that, their action also violates section 7.6.3 a,d,e,f,g and h of the Nigerian Broadcasting code, 6th edition of 2016, which stated that apparatus including the media shall not be applied to the advantage or disadvantage of any political party or candidate at any election.
“We have observed that, what we see daily on various Broadcasting stations of Ogun state government, especially OGTV station are mainly the campaign jingles, adverts and discussions on the candidacy of the sitting governor, H.E. Prince Dapo Abiodun for second term and and other candidates contesting under the platform of All Progressive Congress (APC).
“It was after this observation that we took it upon ourselves as stakeholders in our dear state to make findings on why this abnormality is taking place at an election period, when we believe your station, as only grassroots television station in Ogun state, that should be used to enlighten the populace in order for the electorate to make good choice in the forthcoming governorship and House of Assembly elections, as guaranteed by the laws of Nigeria, has instead become an instrument of emasculation of the views of the opposing political parties and candidates after our findings.
“We went about to meet with the political parties presenting candidates in Ogun state on why they’ve been unable to utilize the great broadcast opportunity of a television station that is the common patrimony of the people of Ogun state and we got to a shocker.
“Deducing from what we heard from about ten political parties who have governorship candidates and other candidates for the forthcoming election; we were told that OGTV station has refused to grant any of their requests to either place adverts in form of campaign jingles, not even grant their representatives or candidates the opportunity to engage with the good people of Ogun state on the station.
“Infact, some complained that OGTV hammered them with highly exorbitant costs when they persist to place advertorial campaign jingles. In short, the cry out there by opposition political parties is that the station has effectively shut them out of airtime for their political campaign and all that permeates the television station daily are the jingles of APC candidates and the governor seeking a second term”, he noted
On the prevailing cash crunch hitting the state, Oniyide however seek the indulgence of the state governor, Dapo Abiodun to make alternative method in order to ease the hardship encounter by the residents of the state at this period of money scarcity instead of trying to wooing them with money to elect him for second term.
“What a shame on Ogun state? That our governor cannot think out of the box or what? What a lazy method to buy votes from the unsuspecting residents of Ogun state? Why can’t our governor find it within his government to have over the past few months, gotten the old Naira notes changed from Banks and at this trying time, distribute the new Naira notes to the people in order to cushion the effects of this trying times?
“Or rather, instead of rushing to the supreme Court mimicking other states, not have approached the Central Bank of Nigeria in order to carry out what is being done in Kano state where CBN is seen on television taking the new Naira notes to the nooks, crannies and hinterlands of Kano state to swap new Naira notes for citizen.
“Where lies the thinking capacity of the Abiodun’s government in doing this for the good people of Ogun state.
“We hereby implore the governor to put up collection point for old Naira notes in order to ameliorate the suffering of the people,” he concluded.
