As the Senate resumed plenary on Tuesday, Advocate Broadcasting Network (ADBN), a television station based in Akwa Ibom alongside six others, is approved to cover live plenary of the Red chambers.
This is as the Red Chambers has barred 10 television stations from live coverage of its plenary.
Senate President, Godswill Akpabio has brushed aside negotiations with the Senate Press Corps.
Consequently, the National Assembly Sergeant-At-Arms barred the television stations in the country from having access to the Chamber starting from Tuesday.
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A Sergeant-At-Arm operative who was stationed at the entrance of the Chamber told journalists that, “The Senate President, Godswill Akpabio instructed the security unit to restrict and prune down the number of media houses covering proceedings,” he stated.
It is also observed that a document which was signed by the Clerk of the Senate, Chinedu Akubueze pasted at the entrance to the hallowed chamber listed only seven media houses that would cover proceedings.
Those accredited are Nigeria Television Authority, NTA, Channels, African Independent Television, AIT, Television Continental, TVC, Arise News, Newage, and ADBN.
Meanwhile, the leadership of the Press Corps had, on Wednesday last week, met with the Clerk of the Senate to harmonise issues relating to covering its proceedings in the chambers.
Journalists who report the National Assembly have now expressed shock at the action of the Senate, which proceeded to bar some television stations from covering its plenary sessions while dialogue on the matter was still ongoing.
Recall that in 2017 during the era of Bukola Saraki’s Senate Presidency, Senate pruned down the number of cameramen and photojournalists from 40 to 13.
