Abuja – In response to the approval of billboards labelled as an attempt to blackmail the Presidential Election Petition Tribunal with the title “All Eyes on The Judiciary,” the Federal Government has taken the decision to dissolve the Secretariat of the Advertising Standard Panel (ASP). This action was announced by Dr. Olalekan Fadolapo, the Director-General of the Advertising Regulatory Council of Nigeria (ARCON), in a statement released on Tuesday. Furthermore, to facilitate a thorough investigation into the matter, Fadolapo explained that the Council has temporarily suspended its Director and Deputy Director in charge of Regulations.
The dissolution of the ASP Secretariat comes as a direct consequence of the controversial billboards’ approval, which raised significant concerns regarding its impact on the credibility and integrity of the Presidential Election Petition Tribunal. Driven by these concerns, the Federal Government decided to dissolve the panel responsible for overseeing advertising standards. This development underscores the government’s commitment to upholding fair and ethical practices, ensuring that advertising does not infringe upon the impartiality and neutrality of the judiciary system.
The decision to suspend the Director and Deputy Director in charge of Regulations demonstrates the seriousness with which the Council intends to approach the issue. By initiating an investigation, the Council aims to thoroughly examine the circumstances surrounding the approval of the billboards and hold those responsible accountable for any potential lapses in the regulatory process. Through these measures, the Federal Government and ARCON seek to reassure the public that appropriate actions are being taken to address the situation and maintain the integrity of the advertising industry in Nigeria.
Dr. Olalekan Fadolapo clarified that although some of the advertisements in question were not approved by the Advertising Standard Panel (ASP), there was an error in the approval process for one of the concepts. This particular advertisement failed to meet the vetting guidelines set by the ASP.
The ASP, being the Statutory Panel under the Advertising Regulatory Council of Nigeria (ARCON), carries the responsibility of ensuring that advertisements adhere to both the laws of the Federation and the Code of advertising ethics within the advertising profession. It serves as the regulatory body that examines and approves advertising materials, ensuring they comply with the prevailing standards and regulations.
In light of the controversy surrounding the billboards and their potential impact on the judiciary, the dissolution of the ASP Secretariat by the Federal Government highlights the significance of maintaining integrity, transparency, and adherence to high standards within the advertising industry.
In the official statement, the Director-General of the Advertising Regulatory Council of Nigeria (ARCON) pointed out the reasons why the advertisement should not have been allowed. He stated:
“The Advertising Regulatory Council of Nigeria (ARCON) has become aware of the presence of ‘All Eyes on the Judiciary’ advertisements on billboards nationwide. It is important to note that these concepts were not approved by the Advertising Standards Panel, leading the Council to take immediate action. We have instructed for the immediate removal of all such materials and for appropriate sanctions to be imposed on the offenders.”
Furthermore, the Director-General explained that the approval of one of the concepts by the Advertising Standards Panel was also a mistake, as it failed to meet the vetting guidelines. He listed the following grounds on which the advertisement fell short:
1. The central theme of the campaign in the advertisement pertained to a matter that is currently pending before the Presidential Election Petition Tribunal. Therefore, it falls under the legal concept of jus pendis, which means it is awaiting judicial pronouncement. As per the Nigerian legal system, matters that are jus pendis should not be subject to public statements, debates, discussions, or advertisements.
2. The advertisement is deemed controversial and has the potential to incite public unrest and disrupt public peace.
3. The advertisement is considered to be a form of blackmail against the Nigerian Judiciary, specifically targeting the Honourable Justices of the Presidential Election Petition Tribunal. It undermines their ability to impartially fulfill their judicial functions without fear or favor, especially regarding a matter that is currently jus pendis.
To address the situation, the Director-General stated that the Council would establish a committee to thoroughly investigate the circumstances surrounding the “erroneous approval” of one of the advertisement concepts and the breach of the vetting guidelines. This committee will delve into the matter to determine how such an approval was granted in the first place.
As a result of the circumstances surrounding the approval of the controversial advertisement, the Director-General further announced the suspension of the Director and Deputy Director in charge of Regulations. This step has been taken to ensure an unbiased and impartial investigation into the matter. Additionally, due to the failure of the Advertising Standards Panel (ASP) Secretariat in effectively fulfilling its role as the custodian of advertising standards, the panel is hereby dissolved.
It is worth noting that the “All Eyes on the Judiciary” narrative initially began as a social media campaign initiated by supporters of Peter Obi, the Presidential candidate of the Labour Party during the previous Presidential election. This background information provides context to the origins of the campaign, which eventually led to the creation of the controversial advertisements.
The campaigners behind the “All Eyes on the Judiciary” narrative are making allegations of potential favoritism by the judiciary towards the incumbent President Bola Tinubu.
