Following his live media chat on Friday, April 3, 2026, during which he declared that “If there was any way to break the screen, I would have shot him (Seun Okinbaloye),” the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Nyesom Wike, has been barred from media coverage by the Independent Broadcast Association of Nigeria (IBAN).
IBAN, which is the umbrella organisation of all independent broadcast stations in Nigeria, also announced a total boycott of all Wike’s media engagements until he tenders an unreserved public apology over his threat to the life of a broadcaster, Seun Okinbaloye.
With the pronouncement and directive to its members by IBAN, Wike is now effectively barred from appearing on privately owned television and radio stations.
This comes even against explanations by the media aide to the FCT Minister, Lere Olayinka, and a personal call reportedly placed by Wike to Seun Okinbaloye, in which the former Rivers State governor claimed that he clarified that he meant no harm.
IBAN in a statement on Sunday, April 5, 2026, by Alhaji Ahmed Tijani Ramalan and Fidelis Duker, Chairman and Acting General Secretary respectively, insisted that unless and until Wike retracts his controversial statement and tenders a public apology, its members will no longer cover his press briefings, media chats, or official engagements.
Wike had on Friday, April 3, 2026, during a live media chat declared; “If there was any way to break the screen, I would have shot him (Seun).”
In spite of the desperate attempt by the media handlers of Wike to downplay the FCT Minister’s comment, IBAN said the clarification was weak and insufficient.
IBAN particularly described Wike’s threat as totally unacceptable, warning that even hypothetical expressions of violence by a public official could be interpreted as intimidation.
The statement further said; “Such language can be perceived as intimidation and risks normalising hostility toward the media. Journalists in Nigeria already operate under difficult conditions”.
IBAN specifically noted Nigeria’s low ranking on the global Press Freedom Index, stressing that comments like Wike’s could further endanger media practitioners who already face surveillance, attacks, and arbitrary arrests.
Accordingly, IBAN listed a three-point demand that must be met by Wike to include: a full retraction of the statement, a public apology to Okinbaloye and the media community, and a reaffirmation of his commitment to press freedom as guaranteed under the Constitution.
IBAN emphasised that until and unless the listed conditions are met, its members would suspend coverage of all activities involving the FCT Minister — a move that effectively shuts Wike out of Nigeria’s privately owned broadcast space.
The statement further said that this is not a step IBAN takes lightly, insisting that it was necessary to protect journalists and uphold professional standards.
IBAN expressed hope that the situation could be resolved if the Minister takes “necessary corrective action,” stressing that “the ball is in his court”.
