ADC to Governor Bago and His Ilk: Nigeria Is a Democracy, Not a Private Estate

The African Democratic Congress (ADC) strongly condemns the recent authoritarian actions by Governor Umar Bago of Niger State.

The party said that this development reveals a disturbing pattern of executive overreach, disdain for constitutional rights, and a steady erosion of democratic norms under the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC).

The ADC stated that Governor Umar Bago’s decision to shut down Badeggi FM “with immediate effect” is nothing short of a brazen assault on press freedom and a clear violation of the rule of law in a manner reminiscent of military dictatorship.

The full statement reads:

The African Democratic Congress (ADC) is greatly concerned about the growing dictatorial tendencies among the state governors of the ruling party, APC.

We recall the recent public statement made by the APC Governor of Edo State, Monday Okpebholo, declaring the presidential candidate of the Labour Party and a leading member of the coalition movement persona non-grata in Edo State.

Now this: Another APC Governor of Niger State, Muhammed Umaru Bago, has just announced a clamp down on a private radio station in the state, with “immediate effect” in a manner reminiscent of the worst form of military dictatorship.

Perhaps, Governor Bago needs to be reminded that he was elected by these same people whose truth he now finds so uncomfortable that he is willing to have their heads.

The cardinal principle of liberal democracy are the freedoms it guarantees, which includes freedom of speech, movement or association. Under our constitution, no one has the power to truncate these freedoms under any pretext whatsoever. But it does appear that the APC governors who consider themselves as some kind of emperors need to be educated on this democratic principle.

If the said radio station has behaved unethically in any way or has transgressed the limits of free speech, there are provisions in the laws for legitimate redress and there are institutions saddled with the responsibility of ensuring compliance. Under Section 2(1)(b) of the National Broadcasting Commission (NBC) Act, the power to sanction a radio station rests solely with the NBC—not with any state governor.

By criminalizing free speech and declaring dissent as treason, Governor Bago has demonstrated the scant regards he has for the very constitution that has sworn to uphold. For an elected governor to accuse ordinary citizens of the highest crime in the land, which is treason, and then proceed to summarily pronounce them guilty all by himself, just because they dared to broadcast information that made the governor uncomfortable is outrageous in every respect.

The ADC warns that if this act is allowed to stand, it would set a precedent that will further imperil press freedom across the country. Today it is Badeggi FM—tomorrow it could be a newspaper, a social media platform, or a journalist asking the “wrong questions.” This is how autocracy begins: not with tanks in the streets, but with microphones being seized and studios being bulldozed.

We call on all Nigerians to resist this creeping dictatorship. Governor Bago must unseal Badeggi FM immediately, and an independent probe must be launched into the misuse of security operatives for political retaliation. Furthermore, the National Assembly must take urgent steps to reinforce the autonomy of the NBC and insulate broadcast regulation from political interference.

Mall. Bolaji Abdullahi

National Publicity Secretary, African Democratic Congress (ADC).