The African Democratic Congress (ADC) has fiercely criticized the recent closure of Badeggi FM, a private radio station in Niger State, by the state governor, Umar Bago. The opposition party described the action as authoritarian and a direct violation of Nigeria’s democratic principles.
Governor Bago had ordered the station shut down “with immediate effect,” prompting an outcry from civil society and political actors. In a strongly worded statement issued on Saturday, ADC spokesperson Bolaji Abdullahi condemned the governor’s decision as a “brazen assault on press freedom,” likening it to tactics used during military dictatorships.
“Governor Bago needs to be reminded that Nigeria remains a democracy, not a personal empire. His actions are not only unlawful but reveal a deeper contempt for the constitutional freedoms that define our nation,” Abdullahi stated.
According to the ADC, under Section 2(1)(b) of the National Broadcasting Commission (NBC) Act, only the NBC has the legal authority to sanction or shut down a broadcast station. The governor, the party noted, acted outside the bounds of his constitutional powers.
The ADC’s statement paints the governor’s move as part of a broader trend of executive overreach and rising authoritarianism under the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC). The party cited other recent incidents, including the declaration by APC’s Edo State Governor, Monday Okpebholo, who reportedly made the Labour Party’s presidential candidate persona non grata in the state.
“This is a disturbing pattern. One APC governor is banning political figures from entering his state, while another is shutting down media outlets that dare to speak truth to power,” the ADC warned.
The opposition party expressed concern that such undemocratic actions could normalize repression and erode the public’s civil liberties.
“Today it is Badeggi FM. Tomorrow it could be a newspaper, a social media platform, or a journalist simply asking the wrong question. This is how dictatorship starts—not with tanks in the streets, but with microphones being silenced and studios shut down.”
The ADC also decried the governor’s reported labeling of dissenting voices as treasonous, stating that accusing ordinary citizens or broadcasters of such serious crimes without due process shows blatant disregard for the Constitution.
“For an elected official to singlehandedly accuse and pronounce guilt over treason, simply because he was uncomfortable with a broadcast, is not only outrageous but dangerously undemocratic,” the statement continued.
The party called on the National Assembly to act decisively by reinforcing the independence of the National Broadcasting Commission and insulating media regulation from political interference.
Furthermore, the ADC demanded:
- Immediate unsealing of Badeggi FM.
- An independent investigation into the alleged misuse of security operatives against the media.
- National resistance against what it described as “creeping dictatorship.”
“The freedoms of speech, expression, and press are cornerstones of liberal democracy. If we allow this illegal action to go unchallenged, we risk sliding into an era where the truth is dictated by those in power.”
As tensions rise over the state of democracy in Nigeria, the ADC’s call to action aims to rally civil society and lawmakers to uphold constitutional order and protect press freedom.
