APC, PDP in war of words over Zamfara Political Clash

Zamfara State Government has shutdown all a federal and private media Houses in the state for covering Political rally of the People’s Democratic Party ahead of the 2023 General Election.

The affected media Houses Include Radio Nigeria (Pride FM ) Gusau, Nigerian Television Authority NTA Gusau, Gamji Radio/Television, Al’ummah TV among others

The people’s Democratic Party had a rally to welcome it’s Governorship Candidate Dauda Lawal on Friday which was latter disrupted by Political thugs leading to the death of one person and several others injured

A vehicle said to belong to the opposition party the PDP was also set ablaze on Saturday near the residence of the PDP Governorship Candidate a few hours to the Commencement of another Political event

The Incident is coming less than forty eight hours after the state government shutdown three local government areas, eight villages, nine major roads, two weekly markets and ban all Political Activities among other things due to the resurgence of Banditry activities in the state

The Zamfara Government says the opposition party violated the order and deserve not to be given media coverage

The state government through the Commissioner for Information Ibrahim Dosara says the decision becomes necessary considering the tension in the state following clash by Supporters of the two major Political Parties

Equally, the Government directed the police to arrest all Journalists that covered the event

Ibrahim Dosara noted that no amount of pressure within or outside the state will deter Government from taking actions that will safeguard the lives and property of it’s citizens

Communities and Highways in Zamfara had in the last one week suffered attack leading to the loss of lives and abduction of innocent citizens especially Travellers.

The National Broadcasting Commission which regulates broadcast media in the Country has however frowned at the shutdown describing it as illegal and urging Security agencies in the State not to carry it out.

The Commission made this known in a Press Release signed by its DG, Sheu Musa Ilelah.

The commission however reiterated that it will resist any attempt to use the broadcast media to cause a breach of peace before, during and after the 2023 elections.

The Umbrella body of all broadcast media organisations in Nigeria, the Broadcasting Organisation of Nigeria, BON, has also weighed in describing it as an exercise of executive power taken too far.