In a move that has sparked outrage and raised concerns about press freedom in Nigeria, accredited journalists were on Thursday barred from accessing the press gallery of the House of Representatives to cover President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s Democracy Day address to a joint session of the National Assembly.
Despite possessing valid accreditation tags issued by the National Assembly authorities, members of the press corps representing prominent national media organisations, including The Punch, The Guardian, Vanguard, TVC News, News Central, The Nation, and ITV, were denied entry by security operatives.
President Tinubu was scheduled to deliver his Democracy Day speech at noon as part of events marking the June 12 anniversary, a day that commemorates Nigeria’s return to democratic rule.
Security agents, including operatives of the Department of State Services (DSS), officials from the Sergeant-at-Arms’ office, and other personnel stationed at the entrance to the gallery, insisted that only individuals with “special accreditation” were allowed access to the session.
Curiously, while journalists with regular accreditation were turned back, several politicians, aides, and other individuals without any known official roles were granted entry, raising questions about transparency and the selective enforcement of access protocols.
Reporters who had arrived as early as 7:00 am in anticipation of the event expressed dismay, describing the restriction as a calculated attempt to muzzle the press and limit media coverage of a significant national event.
“This is a clear affront to the principle of press freedom and transparency in governance,” a senior correspondent told PLATFORM TIMES under anonymity. “If Democracy Day is being celebrated behind closed doors, then what exactly are we celebrating?”
Security personnel advised the journalists to follow the proceedings from television screens at the National Assembly’s media centre, a suggestion that was met with frustration by reporters who had prepared to cover the session live.
The incident has triggered a flurry of criticism from media stakeholders and civil society advocates, who are demanding explanations from the National Assembly leadership over what they have described as an unjustifiable clampdown on press access.
As of press time, there was no official statement from the National Assembly or the Presidency regarding the rationale for the restriction.
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