You Can’t Gag The Media- PDP Tells Buhari, APC

– PDP reacts to the stringent regulations imposed on the media

– Our party alerts that such moves amount to an attempt to amend our constitution through the back door

– The PDP invites Nigerians to note that this dictatorial pathway

The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has reacted to the impose stringent regulations on online media and broadcast organisations by President Muhammadu Buhari-led and All Progressives Congress (APC) administration.

At a media briefing in Abuja on Sunday, the PDP spokesperson, Kola Ologbondiyan, said that freedom of expression, as guaranteed by the nation’s constitution, cannot be subjugated by the federal government under any guise.

The Minister of Information and Culture, Alhaji Lai Mohammed, had, in a statement last week hinted of stringent measures to regulate the operations of social media in the country.

“Our party alerts that such moves amount to an attempt to amend our constitution through the back door, to take away the rights of citizens and undermine our democratic institutions; a development that has the capacity to destabilise our dear nation.

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“The PDP invites Nigerians to note that this dictatorial pathways, which the Buhari Presidency seeks to impose, if allowed, will herald the gradual emasculation of freedom of expression, repression of free press, infringements on the rights of citizens and foisting of siege mentality on the people”, Ologbondiyan said.

The spokesman added that Nigerians are already apprehensive that the directive is geared towards clearing the ground for the introduction of certain harsh policies in country.

The party insisted that the constitution has made enough provisions to guide media practice as well as the exercise of freedom of expression, adding that the foisting of unconstitutional and suppressive regulations is not acceptable under any guise.

It called on members of the National Assembly, as the representatives of the people, to reject such presidential directive in the interest of the nation.