The National Broadcasting Commission, NBC, on Saturday, July 14, 2018, shut down the Ekiti State Broadcasting Service, ESBS, over alleged inflammatory statements made by the outgoing Governor of the State, Mr. Ayodele Fayose.
A statement by the NBC said the station shall remain closed until further notice.
The broadcasting regulatory body had, on Wednesday, warned and imposed a fine of N500,000 against ESBS, owners of Ekiti Radio and Television, for violating Nigeria’s broadcasting code, through lopsided reporting of events in the run-down to Saturday’s gubernatorial poll.
On Saturday, the Commission wielded the big stick after Governor Fayose had reportedly gone on air to announce the candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) candidate, Prof. Kolapo Olusola Eleka, as winner of the election when the process had not been concluded and official results announced.
The regulatory body also accused the Governor of making inflammatory statements, condemning the security agencies and the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, for the supposed manipulation. These acts, said the NBC, were capable of breaching not only the peace of Ekiti State but also that of the nation.
Inside the state itself, there were widespread fears that such broadcast could inflame anger and cause mayhem. People were generally apprehensive that the peaceful atmosphere that pervaded during the election of Saturday may not be sustained as a result of the serious allegations by the outgoing governor.
Earlier, Fayose had alleged that the election was rigged and thugs were being used to disrupt the exercise. He, however, did not say that his own People’s Democratic Party, PDP, was also implicated in the attempted manipulation.
While talking to journalists, Fayose had also alleged that security agencies had abducted his Chief of Staff, and were hounding PDP chieftains and members like common criminals. And there was chaos everywhere.
But contrary to that claim, the process was peaceful, said our correspondent. It went with minimal hitch, may be because of the high security net woven within and around the state because of the vote.
Thirty thousand policemen were sent by the Police High Command to maintain law and order during the vote.
