Ban on live political broadcast in Kano – We censored ourselves not govt- Media forum
Months after the controversial ban of live political programs streaming in Kano State, the Head of Media Forums, have cleared the air, saying they actually agreed to the censorship not the government.
Speaking after an emergency meeting in Kano, the Chairman of the Head Media Forum, Ado Saidu Warawa, said, they collectively agreed to stop live political programs to saved Kano from falling into chaos and uncertainty.
He said, according to National Broadcast Corporation, NBC, checks revealed that 50 percent of abusive and derogative broadcasts comes from Kano and mainly on live political programs which they air.
“You may recall that on May 9th 2025 this Forum took unanimous decision to suspend live political broadcasts, since that time we have witnessed tremendous improvement of quality political programmes in Kano. I wish to restate our Forum’s position on the ban of live broadcast political programmes.”
Warawa said the decision was not taken lightly. In recent times, we have observed a troubling trend-where live political broadcasts have become platforms for misinformation, incitement, and unguarded rhetoric that threatens national unity and public peace.”
“While we remain committed to freedom of expression and media plurality, we must also uphold the ethics of responsible journalism. Political discourse must be moderated, factual, and constructive. Pre-recorded and editorially reviewed content allows for balance, context, and accountability, ” he added.
“We call on all media houses to respect this directive and collaborate with us in promoting a media environment that informs without inflaming, educates without exaggerating, and unites rather than divides.”
The Chairman said democracy thrives when citizens are informed and responsibly engaged, noting that the Forum stands ready to work with stakeholders across sectors to build a more transparent, peaceful, and participatory society.
He noted that the Kano Heads of Media Forum encourages citizens of Kano to intensify efforts in mobilizing eligible voters for both online and in-person registration. Let us match and exceed-the momentum seen in other states by leveraging community outreach, media sensitization, and grassroots engagement.
“Together, we can ensure that every eligible Nigerian participates in the electoral process to a robust democratic governments at all levels.”