ABUJA, Federal Republic of Nigeria. The All Progressives Congress has reversed the decision taken by President-elect, Muhammadu Buhari, to bar the Africa Independent Television (AIT) from covering his activities.
The party said all accredited media organisations in the country, including the AIT, were free to cover the activities of the president elect.
AIT journalists were on Monday denied access to Buhari’s temporary office when they showed up to cover his official engagements.
His spokesperson, Garba Shehu, cited family and security concerns for the decision.
However, the party, in a statement issued in Abuja on Tuesday by its National Publicity Secretary, Lai Mohammed, said the incoming Buhari administration would not discriminate against any media organisation, irrespective of its role during the electioneering leading up to the recent polls.
The statement, however, enjoined all media organisations to observe the highest level of professional standards in carrying out their duties.
“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 organisations 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 organisation from covering the activities of the President-elect,” the APC said.
Credit: Tribune (Nigeria)
