The Critical Role of Broadcast Media in Our Democracy: Seun Okinbaloye and Oseni Rufai as a Case Study, By Segun Fadipe

Today we must confront a question that goes to the heart of our democracy: *What is the role of the broadcaster in a free society?

The microphone is not just a tool. It is a trust. And with that trust comes a responsibility heavier than any title, louder than any rating, and more enduring than any political season.

To illustrate this, let us examine the recent conduct of two of Nigeria’s most visible broadcasters — Seun Okinbaloye of Channels Television and Rufai Oseni of Arise Television — during the rise and collapse of the African Democratic Congress, the ADC.

This is not about individuals. It is about the institution they represent. It is about us.

The Watchdog, Not the Whippet.

The journalist’s first duty is not to make government fall or stand. It is to ‘illuminate truth so that citizens can decide’.

During the ADC episode, both anchors demonstrated brilliance, energy, and reach. But their coverage crossed a line — the line between ‘scrutiny and advocacy’.

The charge is simple: they abandoned neutrality and became operational mouthpieces of the opposition. They amplified ADC narratives without independent verification. They attributed the party’s internal collapse to external sabotage by President Tinubu and the APC, despite evidence pointing to internal factionalism and personal ambition. They used their platforms to attack INEC and the Presidency in ways that allegedly stoked public agitation.

Opinion is permissible in journalism. Allegiance is not.

When a broadcaster is publicly invited to join a political party on live television and does not firmly decline, the presumption of neutrality is broken. And once broken, it is difficult to repair.

The Code We Must Uphold.

Our media is guided by the Nigerian Union of Journalists Code of Ethics and the Nigerian Broadcasting Code. Four pillars hold it up: Impartiality. Accuracy. Fairness. Public Interest.

If the allegations hold true, these pillars were compromised:

• Impartiality was lost when one political bloc was defended consistently while another was antagonized relentlessly.
• Accuracy was sacrificed when blame was assigned without evidence, turning analysis into propaganda.
• Fairness was eroded when court judgments were celebrated as political victories rather than reported as judicial outcomes.

This is not how a democracy thrives. This is how it fractures.

The Trap of Audience Capture.

We must also acknowledge the structural reality of our media landscape. Many media houses are owned by partisan interests. The greater danger arises when anchors internalize that bias as their own editorial mandate.

Seun and Rufai command large social media followings — largely anti-government and anti-Tinubu. This creates what we call ‘audience capture’: the audience rewards combative, anti-establishment commentary, and the anchor delivers more of it for views, for relevance, for validation.

But this is not journalism. Journalism is not a popularity contest. It is a public service.

The Cost of Partisanship.

The most telling sign came after the ADC collapsed. Reports suggest both anchors appeared subdued and discouraged on air.

Why? Because their professional identity had become fused with the political fortunes of the party.

And here lies the philosophical breach: When a journalist’s mood rises and falls with a party’s fortunes, they are no longer reporting the news. They are living it.

The public may respect a critic. But the public does not trust a partisan.

The True Mandate: The Custodian of Conscience

Let me put it plainly.

“Tinubu is behind ADC’s collapse” is a curse. It assigns guilt and ends inquiry.

“ADC collapsed due to internal contradictions; here is the evidence” is a council. It invites scrutiny, evidence, and reasoned debate.

One ends discourse. The other advances democracy.

The journalist must be the custodian of the process, not the conduit of a caucus.

The Way Forward: Reclaiming the Sacred Trust.

If we are to preserve the integrity of our democracy, broadcasters must return to their sacred mandate.

1. Restore Impartiality— Criticize policy, not persons. Question government, but apply the same rigor to the opposition. Neutrality demands symmetrical accountability.
2. Reinforce Institutional Neutrality — Acknowledge when claims lack proof. Decline invitations that position you as a political actor.
3. Reaffirm Public Trust — The microphone is not for settling political scores. It is for serving citizens who deserve facts, not factions.

Dr. Reuben Abati stands as a reminder that you can be critical without being captive. You can be fearless without being reckless. You can be bold without being biased.

Final Word: The Future Demands More

Nigeria’s democracy is young. It is fragile. And it depends on institutions that hold power to account without becoming power’s opposition.

When journalists become propagandists, they do not weaken the government — they weaken the public’s capacity to discern truth. The collapse of the ADC is a warning: a platform built on partisanship will collapse with the party it serves.

The profession demands more. Democracy demands more. The Nigerian people deserve journalists who are custodians of conscience.

Not conduits of caucus.

The true custodian guards the integrity of the process. The partisan guards the interests of a faction.

Thank you. And may we all choose truth over tribe, and duty over allegiance.

Segun Fadipe – Social Commentator and Political Analyst, Lagos. Copied !