Atiku Abubakar Critiques NBC Advisory on Press Freedom

Atiku Abubakar, the former Vice President of Nigeria, has condemned a recent advisory issued by the National Broadcasting Commission (NBC) that he believes threatens press freedom as the country approaches the 2027 general elections. The NBC's advisory, released on a Friday, raised concerns about the declining professionalism among broadcast anchors and warned that violations of its code could attract sanctions.

Atiku expressed that the advisory aims to control political narratives rather than promote ethical journalism, stating that the media industry in Nigeria has earned global respect and should not be subjected to regulatory pressure, especially during election cycles. He highlighted the importance of maintaining professional ethics without selective enforcement and cautioned against what he described as "creeping censorship." Atiku's statements were made via his Facebook page, where he urged journalists and broadcasters to be vigilant against excessive media regulation that could undermine democratic accountability and erode public confidence in the electoral process.