AIT's Ban: PDP, APC React

AIT
The Peoples Democratic Party, (PDP) has described as unacceptable Monday’s directive to bar AIT from covering the activities of the President-elect, General Muhammadu Buhari saying the suppression of the media under any guise portends danger for the nation’s democracy.
The Party’s national publicity secretary Olisa Metuh in a statement described the action as not only unjustifiable but also unconstitutional and completely against the spirit of liberty and the rule of law in democracy.
The PDP while reminding General Buhari that part of the challenges of his new position is that he has lost his private life, said they are disturbed by the emerging development and will not cease to stand with Nigerians on issues of democracy and freedom at all times as a strong and robust opposition.
The Party however called on Nigerians not to despair but remain steadfast and unite in resisting any anti-democratic tendencies intended to instill fear in them.
It would be recalled that security advisers of the President-elect General Muhammadu Buhari on Monday barred the television crew of Africa Independent Television (AIT) from covering the activities of their principal at the Defence House.
But in reaction, the All Progressives Congress has said all accredited media organisations in the country including Africa Independent Television (AIT) are free to cover the activities of the President-elect General Muhammadu Buhari.
A statement by the Party’s national publicity secretary Lai Mohammed says the incoming Buhari administration would not discriminate against any media organization irrespective of its role during electioneering.
According to Lai Mohammed, there must be repercussions within the realms of the law for media organisations which have breached the code of ethics of the journalism profession.
He however declared that such repercussions will not include barring any accredited media organization from covering the activities of the Governors-elect.