Governor Orders Journalists Out Of APC Meeting, Claims ‘No Freedom Of Speech’
Governor Orders Journalists Out Of APC Meeting, Claims ‘No Freedom Of Speech’
In an audio recording obtained by SaharaReporters, the governor speaking in Hausa language not only barred reporters from covering the session but also threatened legal action if they published the proceedings without his approval.
Governor Mohammed Bago of Niger State has ordered journalists out of an All Progressives Congress (APC) meeting in the Kontagora Local Government Area, declaring there was “no freedom of speech” in the hall.
In an audio recording obtained by SaharaReporters, the governor speaking in Hausa language not only barred reporters from covering the session but also threatened legal action if they published the proceedings without his approval.
The incident occurred during an internal stakeholders’ gathering when a party insider challenged claims that executives were being paid monthly.
The revelation triggered rowdiness, prompting the governor to abruptly expel all journalists present.
“Journalists that record and report us verbatim, who invited you here?” Bago was heard saying.
“Whoever you come here and record us and publish without approval we will charge him.”
“There is no freedom of speech in this hall. We didn’t invite you, you come to record us and publish it verbatim.”
“This is an inhouse discussion so all the journalists should leave and allow us to have an inhouse discussion.”
Weeks before this closed-door dispute, Governor Bago sparked a broader media freedom crisis by ordering the shutdown of Badeggi FM 90.1, a private radio station based in Minna.
He accused the station of unethical broadcasting and incitement, insisting that its broadcasts were inflaming public sentiment against his administration.
He had ordered security agencies to seal the station, revoke its licence, and even profile the owner, acting without due process.
The reaction was swift and fierce.
The Nigerian Bar Association denounced the move as “executive rascality of the highest order” and an outright assault on democratic governance, reminding that only the National Broadcasting Commission (NBC) has the legal authority to regulate or sanction broadcast stations.
The Nigeria Union of Journalists similarly condemned the action as unconstitutional overreach, warning that media intimidation undermines democratic accountability.
Human rights organisations also weighed in heavily. The National Human Rights Commission had also labelled the shutdown a grave violation of press freedom and constitutional rights, urging the governor to restore the station’s operations and pursue any grievances through regulatory bodies rather than executive edict.
The African Democratic Congress, too, accused the governor of authoritarian tendencies, likening his actions to a “military dictatorship” and highlighting a dangerous drift away from democratic norms within APC-governed states.
Faced with mounting legal and public pressure, the state government eventually backtracked.
A statement from the Information Ministry had confirmed that Badeggi FM remained on air while the NBC conducted an investigation into the allegations, reiterating respect for regulatory authority and democratic process.
Shortly after, the radio station filed a suit to protect its rights.
In court, the governor’s legal representatives signalled willingness to settle the dispute out of court, with the next review scheduled for September 3, 2025.
