By Sadiq Umar
The All Progressives Congress (APC) has said that all accredited media organizations in the country, including the African Independent Television (AIT), are free to cover the activities of the President-elect, Gen. Muhammadu Buhari.
President-elect Muhammadu Buhari had on Monday ordered security operatives at the Defence House, his official residence for now, to stop AIT from covering his activities, citing security and family concerns.
Spokesman of its media campaign organisation, Mr. Garba Shehu, had defended the action saying there are ethics and standard issues to be resolved with the media house.
But in a statement issued in Abuja on Tuesday by its National Publicity Secretary, Mr. Lai Mohammed, the party said the incoming Buhari Administration will not discriminate against any media organization, irrespective of its role during the electioneering campaign leading up to the recent polls.
“There is a Code of Ethics guiding the practice of journalism in Nigeria, and this demands every journalist to ensure a strict adherence to the highest levels of ethics and professionalism in carrying out their duties.
“There must be repercussions, within the realms of the law, for media organizations which have wantonly breached the Code of Ethics of the journalism profession and turned themselves to partisans instead of professionals. But such repercussions will not include barring any accredited media organization from covering the activities of the President-elect,” APC said.
It urged all media organizations to observe the highest level of professional standards in carrying out their duties.
Alhaji Lai Mohammed
National Publicity Secretary
All Progressives Congress (APC)
Abuja, April 28th 2015
