He described the action of Governor Bello Matawalle’s government as unlawful and aimed at victimising media organisations in the state for covering political activities of opposition parties.
The governorship candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in Zamfara State, Dr. Dauda Lawal has described the shutting down of five government and privately owned media organisations by the state governor as an attempt to stifle and gag the press in the state.
He described the action of Governor Bello Matawalle’s government as unlawful and aimed at victimising media organisations in the state for covering political activities of opposition parties.
The state government on Saturday through a statement signed by the state information commissioner ordered the shutting down of some media houses namely Radio Nigeria, Pride FM Gusau, NTA Gusau, Gamji Television, Vision FM, and Al’umma TV.
Lawal in a statement issued on Sunday by the Dauda Lawal Media Office in Gusau, berated the directive.
The statement read in part: “It is with great dismay that we condemn the unlawful action of Zamfara state government aimed at stifling the freedom of the press. It is very unfortunate, to say the least.
“The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and its governorship candidate, Dr. Dauda Lawal using this medium to strongly condemn Governor Matawalle’s order to shut down some selected Federal Government and privately owned media stations in the state; NTA Gusau, Radio Nigeria Pride FM Gusau, Gamji TV and FM Gusau, and Al’umma TV Gusau.
“This is a draconian style applied to gag press freedom simply for covering opposition parties’ political activities in compliance with the NBC Act and Electoral act as amended 2022.
“The NBC Act and Electoral act as amended 2022 has obliged all broadcast stations to give equal access to political parties in the build up to the 2023 general election.
“This singular action of Governor Matawalle has exposed the type of liability Zamfara State is saddled with as Governor, a Governor who is ignorant of the laws of our land is a further confirmation to all and sundry that indeed Zamfara State is on autopilot.”
Meanwhile, the National Broadcasting Commission (NBC) in a statement has faulted the directive of the state government to shut down media stations arbitrarily.
NBC further warned the state government of the gravity of the illegality and requested that it should reverse the directive and apologise to the people of the state.
“Zamfara State APC and Governor Matawalle should understand that broadcast stations are regulated by the National Broadcasting Commission (NBC) while campaign and election activities are regulated by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), which has given the approval on October 12th for governorship campaigns to commence.
“For us in the PDP, it is not surprising that Gov. Bello Matawalle is not aware of the limits of his powers and doesn’t understand the function of the National Broadcasting Commission (NBC). A Governor who parades falsified academic records as a constitutional requirement for public office couldn’t have behaved otherwise,” the statement said.
The Dauda Lawal Media office further stressed the importance of press freedom in ensuring free and fair elections and protection of citizens’ rights and freedom. “Above all, the press serves as a watchdog on power. Governor Matawalle's attempts to throttle the independence of the press will be resisted by all men and women of good conscience,” the statement added.