The Federal Government’s recent decision to disband the Advertising Standard Panel (ASP) is causing a wave of discontent across Nigeria. This decision comes hot on the heels of the contentious ‘All Eyes on The Judiciary’ billboards that sprang up across states and the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), leading to a cascade of concerns.
Phrank Shaibu, the Special Assistant on Public Communications to Atiku Abubakar, has denounced the billboards’ destruction as a blatant manifestation of President Bola Tinubu’s authoritarian tendencies and an assault on freedom of expression. Shaibu asserts that the incident accentuates the argument for concluding election cases in court before questionable election victors assume office. He raises the pertinent question of how a simple message like “All Eyes on the Judiciary” can be misconstrued as a societal threat.
Adding fuel to the fire, the suspension of the Director and Deputy Director overseeing ASP regulations and the dissolution of the ASP secretariat have triggered shockwaves nationwide. The government justifies this drastic move, accusing the ASP of falling short in its fundamental role as the watchdog of advertising, advertisements, and marketing communications.
Furious citizens are rejecting this decision, as the government alleges that the billboard sponsors engaged in blackmail against the Presidential Election Petition Tribunal (PEPT). Consequently, the government has ordered their removal and imposed penalties on those who defy this order.
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