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Journalists barred from covering Zamfara governor’s 2025 budget presentation
Journalists were barred from covering the 2025 budget presentation by the Zamfara State Governor, Dauda Lawal, at the State House of Assembly on Thursday.
The incident attracted backlash from media professionals within and outside the state.
The journalists, who arrived at the Assembly Complex in Gusau early in the morning to cover the event, were ordered to leave by security personnel just as Governor Lawal entered the chamber.
Despite efforts by the governor’s media aide, Sulaiman Bala Idris, to intervene, the security operatives refused to allow the journalists inside.
Idris attempted to calm the situation, saying, “Please take it easy. I know how you feel, but I assure you we will rectify the issue.”
READ ALSO: Zamfara governor orders local council chairmen to involve traditional rulers in governance
However, only reporters from Channels Television and TVC were permitted to cover the session, sparking outrage among the excluded media representatives, who questioned the selective access.
A source within the Assembly complex alleged that the exclusion of journalists was intentional due to concerns over a lack of quorum among the lawmakers.
He said: “Blocking journalists was a deliberate decision because only a few members were present in the chamber, and they did not meet the quorum required to officially receive the governor for the budget presentation.”
Out of the 24 Assembly members, only a handful reportedly attended the session, raising doubts about the legitimacy of the proceedings.
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