2019: Forum frowns at claims of political campaigns adverts

The harsh tone of political advertising, the often controversial techniques employed by political advertisers and competing claims made in campaign adverts have raised questions about the goals of political advertisers.

In the build-up of the 2019 general election, smear political campaigns have begun to get more prevalent in the political spectrum and gradually invading the public space through the media.

In fact, “desperate politicians” are beginning to take advantage of the political atmosphere to spread and increase the use of hate speech, fake news and character assassination to campaign against their political opponents.

These were some of the issues that stakeholders in the advertising space attempted to address at a forum in Abuja organized by the Advertising Practitioners Council of Nigeria (APCON) and the Advertising Practitioners Association Abuja Chapter (APAAC).

The Acting Registrar and Chief Executive Officer of APCON, Ijedi Iyoha said stakeholders involved in political activities must establish and assert that their interest is to improve the wellbeing of the nation and provide a better tomorrow.

She called on the media to combat hate speech and unsubstantiated distorted or misrepresented claims which are intended to smear the character and integrity of political opponents.

The Minister of Information and Culture, Alhaji Lai Mohammed, represented by the Permanent Secretary of his ministry, Grace Isu Gekpe observed that a number of advertisements that are unhealthy for the country’s social and democratic progress have been in the media space for a while and warned those who engage in the design and deployment of advertisements must be guided by the ethical laws of the profession.

The Chairman, Senate Committee on Information, Suleiman Adokwe said it was unfortunate that politics in Nigeria isn’t issue based anymore but about character assassination.

The Dean of School of Communication, Bayero University, Kano, Professor Umaru Pate, called on APCON to increase its involvement with regulatory bodies like the Nigerian Union of Journalists among others and partner with credible media organizations in and out of the country and exchange ideas.