Many Nigerians have expressed their outrage at the recent news that the Advertising Regulatory Council of Nigeria (ARCON) ordered the removal of “All Eyes on the Judiciary” billboards sponsored by the Diaspora’s for Good Governance.
The advertisements were placed at the behest of the group ahead of the presidential election tribunal, which has yet to rule on a date for the petitions contesting President Bola Tinubu’s election victory in February 2023.
ARCON also disbanded its Advertising Standards Panel, which was in charge of licencing billboards aimed towards the presidential election petition tribunal.
In a memo signed by the Director-General, Dr. Olalekan Fadolapo, the Council said it considered advertisement as blackmail against the Nigerian Judiciary, the Presidential Election Petition Tribunal and particularly the Honourable Justices of the Tribunal who are expected to discharge their judicial functions without fear or favour over a matter that is currently jus pendis.
Reactions
An aide to former Vice President Atiku Abubakar on communications, Phrank Shaibu, says the removal of some billboards across the country is an assault on freedom of speech.
On X formally known as Twitter, @J_samdavid said “When you shut down all the medium citizens use to express their grievance, the revolution them becomes a must. Capitalism will most definitely collapse on itself.
@cyfacesky said “Military dictator nur do pass this one.
The Nigerian state has been captured by selfish individuals in government.
@achirobert1 wrote “All eyes on judiciary is to remind them of some judgements in the past on certain cases which could be made as cases of reference, but bad antecedents – Supreme Court governor for example. Also, a Senator without contesting for primaries. These are references that are complicated.