The Federal Government has disbanded the Secretariat of the Advertising Standard Panel, ASP for allegedly approving the ‘All Eyes on The Election Tribunal Judges’ billboards.
Some supporters of Peter Obi, the Presidential candidate of the Labour Party, LP, in the 2023 election had started the All Eyes on the Election Tribunal Judges’ social media campaign to keep the judiciary on its toes ahaead of the final ruling in the case.
The campaigners are alleging that there are plans by the judiciary to favour the incumbent President, Bola Tinubu.
The Federal Government said the advertisement was a blackmail of the Presidential Election Petition Tribunal.
Dr. Olalekan Fadolapo, the Director-General of the Advertising Regulatory Council of Nigeria, ARCON, in a statement issued on Tuesday, announced the dissolution of the Panel.
Fadolapo said the Council has also suspended its Director and Deputy Director in charge of regulations to allow investigations into the issue.
“The attention of the ARCON has been drawn to the “All Eyes on the Judiciary” advertisements exposed on some billboards across the country. The concepts exposed were not approved by the ASP hence, the materials being exposed be brought down immediately and the violators sanctioned.
“The advertisement is controversial and capable of instigating unrest and breach of public peace.
“Consequently, the Director and Deputy Director, Regulations have also been suspended as The Advertising Standards Panel, ASP, Secretariat is hereby dissolved,” he said.