The Chairman House Committee on Information and National Orientation, Hon. Buba Jubril has cautioned advertisers and all stakeholders involved in advertising, especially political adverts which have the tendency of hitting the polity.

Jubril said the warning had become important because of the series of political and ‘hate’ adverts published in recent times, which, he said, had caused disaffection in some parts of the country.

The law maker representing Kogi, Lokoja Federal Constituency, said this at the inauguration of the Sixth Governing Council of Advertising Practitioners Council of Nigeria (APCON), in Lagos, South-West, Nigeria.

He said adverts are perception oriented and that any material meant for the public should be properly vetted to ensure that it does not create disaffection among Nigerians.

“Election period is just one phase out of our lives and Nigeria as a country is the only place we have. We cannot because of election tear the country apart because after the election phase our normal lives are expected to continue.”

He called on APCON, the advertising regulatory authority, to ensure what goes into the minds of the people are vetted and to apply whatever sanctions to anybody who flout the law irrespective of their status or party affiliation.

“Ours is to assure you that from the perspective of the National Assembly is to support all that you do, because we know that what you are doing is good.

“APCON, has a great role to play here, which is to ensure that adequate sanctions are applied on whoever flout the law especially in this election period irrespective of their party affiliation.

“I hope the incoming Council will do better than the outgoing one,” he added.

In his remark, incoming Chairman of APCON Governing Council and Chief Executive of SO&U, Udeme Ufot, mfr, frpa, called on all stake holders to avoid conduct that would bring advertising to disrepute and bring to question the confidence reposed in the body by the government.

He called on the media to ensure that all adverts presented for exposure carry the appropriate APCON verification, as the nation approach the last weeks of electioneering campaigns.

•Photo shows Udeme Ufot.

Update news