The National Broadcasting Commission (NBC) has warned broadcasting media in Nigeria to avoid announcing election results before the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC).
Director of Broadcast, Monitoring of NBC, Francisca Aiyetan, gave the advice on Wednesday, saying, this was to ensure a credible electoral process.
The Commission also urged media houses to desist from using votes obtained at the polling stations to reflect on a candidate’s chances.
All partisan political programmes and advertisements in the broadcasting stations ended on Thursday, in accordance with the Nigeria Broadcasting Code.
The statement added: “The National Broadcasting Commission wishes to underscore the enormous responsibility trust on broadcasters at this period and therefore calls for strict adherence to the provisions of the Nigeria Broadcasting Code and the Electoral Act to ensure sane airwave that will enable a free, fair, credible and transparent election,”
“Consequently, the commission urges broadcasters to note, for full compliance, the following sections of the Nigeria Broadcasting Code; the broadcaster shall ensure that the broadcast of a partisan political campaign, jingle, announcement and any form partisan party identification or symbol ends not later than twenty-four hours before polling day.
“The only exception is when a government functionary may perform a service relating to his office within the 24-hour campaign restriction period, provided there is no colouration of partisanship by the official or the broadcaster.
“The broadcaster shall not permit any political campaign or advertisement on its facilities 24 hours preceding polling day or on polling day,” the statement reads.
“The broadcaster shall not use any vote obtained at a polling station or from exit poll to project or speculate on a candidate’s chances.”