Sen. Suleiman Adokwe, the Chairman Senate Committee on Information, Culture and National Orientation, has warned the media and politicians to eschew character assassination in the lead-up to the 2019 general election.

Adoke, who gave the advice at a programme organised by Advertising Practitioners Council of Nigeria (APCON) on Thursday in Abuja, also warned against hate speech in political advertising and media communication.

“This is because any mismanagement of advertising and communication in politics could tear the country apart,’’ he said.

He said that most politicians often engaged in hate speech and campaign of calumny, instead of advertising and communicating their programmes to the electorate.

Besides, Adoke noted that such hate messages were largely aided and abetted by the media, saying that “it was high time the media abided by the ethics of the profession.”

He recalled during the electioneering of the defunct Social Democratic Party (SDP) and the National Republican Convention (NRC) in 1993, Nigeria witnessed purposeful, issue-based political campaigns, adding that the situation had degenerated into outright character assassinations.

He called on the appropriate authorities to deal with erring politicians who engaged in character assassinations and hate speeches as well as media organisations that contravened professional code of ethics outlawing the broadcast of such messages.

“The role of APCON in regulating advertisements must strictly be adhered to; advertisement in the media must be civil and devoid of abusive statements,’’ he said.

Adokwe underscored the need for all politicians to promote the peace and stability of the country, irrespective of their political affiliations.

The senator said that issues like civility, decorum and love in political campaigns must be taken seriously so as to enhance the unity and stability of the country.

In her remark, Mrs Ijedi Iyoha, the Acting Registrar of APCON, said that unethical political advertising which contained hate speeches, character assassinations and campaigns of calumny would be sanctioned.

She also said that a major responsibility of the broadcast media was to guard against such negative campaigns against political opponents.

She said that APCON would ensure that political communication in the lead-up to the 2019 general elections in Nigeria became an exemplary model for all political communications in Africa.

Iyoha said that APCON would be in the vanguard of efforts to ensure political stability of Nigeria by enforcing ethical standards in political advertising in the country.

She added that APCON would do all within its power to ensure strict adherence to the extant rules guiding political communication by the media. (NAN)

– Oct. 11, 2018 @ 17:32 GMT |