The People’s Democratic Party, PDP, in a statement signed by its Publicity Secretary Kola Ologbondiyan said it is evident that the attack on AIT and RayPower is targeted at intimidating and gagging the media, repress constitutionally guaranteed freedom of speech and stifle public opinion, particularly as it is related to the determination by Nigerians to retrieve the stolen presidential mandate at the tribunal

The party also described the clamp down on AIT/RayPower as a plot to frighten and choke the media

It accused the ruling All Progressives Congress, APC, of attempting to strangle the media, adding that the Director General of the NBC, Ishaq Modibbo Kawu is a card-carrying member of the All Progressives Congress, APC.

“The All Progressives Congress, APC, is mortally afraid that a press release will raise the red flag and expose its manipulations and any attempt to subvert the course of justice especially in the presidential petition, hence the desperation to strangulate the media and cow Nigerians from freely expressing themselves”.

The People’s Democratic Party, PDP, noted that there can never be democracy without a free press and to stifle, the media is an invitation to fascism and a return to the era of obnoxious military decrees which must be resisted by all.

“Our party, therefore, calls on Nigerians and the international community to unite in condemning this desperation to gag the media and repress free speech in Nigeria”.

The National Broadcasting Commission, NBC, on Thursday announced the suspension of the licenses of the AIT and RayPower FM belonging to Daar Communications Plc

The DG said the infractions committed by the media houses included their inability to pay their license renewal fees and the airing of a presidential election documentary while the matter was still before the tribunal among others