Some of the 18 candidates vying for the presidency in the coming 2023 election own a media outfit.
TOP MEDIA reports that mass communication shapes the view of the citizens and constructs public opinion. Actors like politicians, lobbyists, media owners and journalists, all influence the citizens. Through that, public opinion is constructed by the political elites too.
We look at five presidential hopefuls who run a media company.
1. Bola Tinubu (APC)
During a Twitter Space organised by the Tinubu campaign organisation on September 11, 2022, the Minister of State for Labour and Employment who is also the spokesperson for the All Progressives Congress (APC) presidential campaign organisation, Festus Keyamo (SAN), revealed that the former Lagos State governor owns Television Continental (TVC).
His words: “Asiwaju (Tinubu) started TVC after Atiku Abubakar got license to run a private TV station in Adamawa. Whilst TVC is now a global brand today Atiku’s TV station is now comatose. BAT has always managed anything and everything better than all his competitors.”
TVC is a news 24-hour television channel based in Lagos.
Founded in 2012, the broadcast house aired publicly for the first time on February 28, 2013.
2. Atiku Abubakar (PDP)
Atiku, the presidential candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), owns Gotel Communications Limited, a communication outfit (radio and television) based in Yola, Adamawa State. Atiku is an indigene of Adamawa.
3. Adewole Adebayo (SDP)
Adebayo, the presidential candidate of the Social Democratic Party (SDP), is the owner of Kaftan TV, headquartered in Ondo State.
KAFTAN TV began broadcasting in September 2018. It broadcasts in the English language on StarTimes, BEN Television, and Lyngsat.
4. Dumebi Kachikwu (ADC)
Kachikwu, the presidential flag-bearer of the African Democratic Congress (ADC), is the founder of Roots Television, Abuja.
5. Omoyele Sowore (AAC)
Sowore is a human rights activist and pro-democracy campaigner, known for founding the online news medium, Sahara Reporters. In August 2018, he founded the African Action Congress (AAC) and ran as its presidential candidate in the 2019 Nigerian general election. He is also contesting for the presidency in 2023.
