ADC: Bago’s radio station clampdown reminiscent of military rule — APC governors acting like emperors

The African Democratic Congress (ADC) has criticised Umar Bago, governor of Niger, for ordering the shutdown of Badeggi FM radio station.

The station based in Minna, the state capital, was accused of airing content allegedly inciting violence.

Bologi Ibrahim, chief press secretary to the governor, said the “daily activities of the radio station have been unethical.”

The governor also directed that the licence of the station be revoked.

Reacting in a statement on Saturday, Bolaji Abdullahi, ADC’s national publicity secretary, described the move as “an assault on press freedom” and “a brazen violation of the rule of law.”

Abdullahi said the governor’s action reflects “a disturbing pattern of executive overreach.”

“We recall the recent public statement made by the APC governor of Edo, Monday Okpebholo, declaring the presidential candidate of the Labour Party persona non-grata in the state,” the statement reads.

“Now another APC governor of Niger has clamped down on a private radio station in a manner reminiscent of military dictatorship.”

He said Bago must remember that he was “elected by the people.”

“The cardinal principles of liberal democracy are the freedoms it guarantees, which include freedom of speech, movement and association,” Abdullahi said.

He added that no one has the power to truncate these freedoms “under any pretext whatsoever.”

“But it does appear that the APC governors who consider themselves as some kind of emperors need to be educated on this democratic principle,” Abdullahi said.

“If the station behaved unethically or transgressed the limits of free speech, there are legal provisions for redress and institutions responsible for ensuring compliance.

“Under Section 2(1)(b) of the National Broadcasting Commission (NBC) Act, the power to sanction a radio station rests solely with the NBC.”

He accused Bago of “criminalising free speech and declaring dissent as treason.”

Abdullahi warned that the governor’s action could set a dangerous precedent if left unchecked, adding that “today it is Badeggi FM, tomorrow it could be newspapers or journalists asking the wrong questions.”

He said democracy is threatened when governors silence dissent, stressing that the move represents “a troubling abuse of power.”

He also warned that “autocracy begins when microphones are seized and radio stations shut.”

The ADC spokesperson demanded that Badeggi FM be reopened immediately, urging that the rule of law must prevail.

He further called for an independent probe into the alleged misuse of security agencies and urged the national assembly to safeguard the autonomy of the NBC.