A rift has erupted between journalists and media executives in Kano State following a controversial directive from the state government banning live political programmes on radio.
The directive, which emerged after a quarterly meeting convened by the Kano State Ministry of Information and Internal Affairs, was officially signed by Sani Abba Yola, Director of Special Duties in the ministry.
It was presented as part of efforts to curb inflammatory broadcasts and safeguard Kano’s cultural and religious values.
However, the move has drawn widespread backlash from journalists, opposition politicians, and civil society organizations who argue it infringes on press freedom.
Ado Saidu Warawa, Chairman of the Forum of Media Executives in Kano and Manager of Freedom Radio, denied that the state government was behind the directive. According to him, the decision to halt live political programming was made independently by media executives concerned about rising cases of defamation and incitement by political guests.
“We saw the need to suspend these programmes ourselves because political actors were using them irresponsibly to insult and defame others,” he explained.
However, several journalists in the state have rejected this claim, insisting the government has no legal authority to restrict broadcasting content.
Veteran journalist Abubakar Haruna Galadanci, who has worked in Kano’s media space for nearly two decades, told DAILY POST that only the National broadcasting Commission (NBC) is empowered to regulate broadcast content.
“What the Kano government is doing is laughable. It’s a clear overreach—it’s not within their powers to impose such restrictions,” he said.
Abdurrashid Hussain, Head of New Media at Premier Radio Kano, echoed this view, describing the situation as a fundamental misunderstanding between the government and media stakeholders.
“If the media truly decided on this course of action, the government should let the media speak for themselves. There’s no need to preempt or enforce their decision,” he noted.
The ban has also sparked political condemnation, especially from opposition parties.
The spokesperson of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Kano, Ahmed Aruwa, in an interview with DAILY POST, strongly criticized the decision, saying the government was using it as a tool to silence dissenting voices.
“This government is not NBC. It has no right to dictate what programmes can air. We will challenge this decision at every level, including at the Presidency,” Aruwa declared.
He emphasized that political opposition is vital in a democracy and accused the Kano State Government of ignoring more pressing governance issues in favor of stifling political dialogue.
“They should focus on solving real problems instead of shutting down live political shows. This is happening in other states and even at the federal level—why should Kano be different?” he asked.
Civil society and human rights organizations have also expressed concern.
Comrade Auwal Usman, National Director of the Awareness for Human Rights and Charity Foundation, condemned the ban as an abuse of power by political officeholders.
“We don’t believe Governor Abba Kabir Yusuf himself issued this directive. It appears to be the handiwork of the Commissioner for Information. Unless there is a law backing it, we won’t comply,” he said.
Usman added that any attempt to suppress journalists under the guise of cultural protection is unacceptable, and his organization would resist it through every legal means.
As of now, there is no clear legal enforcement mechanism for the directive, and its implementation remains uncertain. Media presenters, opposition politicians, and advocacy groups remain defiant, insisting the decision violates Nigeria’s constitutional guarantee of free speech and a free press.
The standoff continues to draw public attention in Kano, with calls mounting for the state government to clarify its position and respect the role of media in a democratic society.
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