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Governors Bago, Eno, IGP Egbetokun Blacklisted for Press Repression

In a historic rebuke of state power, the International Press Institute (IPI) Nigeria has inducted two sitting governors and the nation's top police officer into its "Book of Infamy," accusing them of systematic press repression, even as the Vice President intervened with a last-minute plea for mediation.

The battle for Nigeria's democratic soul reached a new crescendo in Abuja as the country's leading press advocacy group took the extraordinary step of permanently blacklisting three of its most powerful officials. The International Press Institute (IPI) Nigeria has entered Niger State Governor Umaru Bago, Akwa Ibom State Governor Umo Eno, and Inspector-General of Police Kayode Egbetokun into its "Book of Infamy"—a damning public register reserved for violators of press freedom.

The announcement, made by IPI Nigeria President Musikilu Mojeed at the institute's Annual General Meeting, marks a sharp escalation in the media's defense of Nigeria's constitutional guarantees. It frames the actions of these officials not as isolated incidents, but as symptomatic of a deepening crisis for the Fourth Estate.

"The 'Book of Infamy' is our wall of shame for those who choose to trample on the pillars of our democracy," Mojeed stated, detailing the specific charges against each inductee.

The Charges: A Litany of Democratic Violations

The indictments are precise and unresolved:

*   Governor Umaru Bago (Niger State): Blacklisted for the "undemocratic, unconstitutional and unacceptable" shutdown of Badeggi 90.1 FM on August 1, 2025. The station remains silenced despite high-level interventions.
*   Governor Umo Eno (Akwa Ibom State): Listed for the expulsion of two Channels Television journalists from the Government House in May 2025, a punitive act following their reporting of his remarks. Mojeed noted all attempts to engage the governor were ignored.
*   IGP Kayode Egbetokun: Inducted for failing to curb a nationwide pattern of "systemic media repression" by police officers under his command, including arbitrary arrests and harassment of journalists.

Vice President's Dramatic Plea and a Stark Contrast

The proceedings took a dramatic turn when Vice President Kashim Shettima, who chaired the event, mounted a direct appeal for clemency. Acknowledging the gravity of the situation, he requested a two-week grace period to personally mediate. "Give us a grace period of two weeks…I will impress on him to restore those Channel reporters. Bago is my friend as well; I will invite him to my office and we will sort things out," Shettima pledged, extending his promise of engagement to the Police Chief.

In a striking juxtaposition, the IPI presented its Commendation Award to the Director-General of the State Security Service (SSS), Adeola Ajayi, for his "unmistakable commitment to press freedom." The contrast underscores a fragmented security landscape where one agency is lauded for cooperation while the primary law enforcement body is condemned for oppression.

A Crisis Set Against a Global Backdrop

This confrontation is not occurring in a vacuum. It unfolds as Nigeria's press freedom standing continues to erode globally. The 2025 World Press Freedom Index by Reporters Without Borders ranks Nigeria 123rd out of 180 countries, citing a "climate of impunity" and persistent violence against journalists. The IPI's "Book of Infamy," launched in 2022, is a strategic response—a tool of moral and reputational pressure designed to attach a permanent cost to anti-press actions.

The two-week window granted to Vice President Shettima now creates a critical test. It measures the Tinubu administration's genuine commitment to enforcing constitutional freedoms from the highest office. For Governors Bago and Eno, and IGP Egbetokun, it is a final opportunity to reverse course—to reopen shuttered media houses, restore journalists' access, and rein in predatory police units.

Their choice is stark: become architects of repair or remain enshrined in infamy as symbols of Nigeria's democratic backsliding. The outcome will resonate far beyond the media community, defining the health of public accountability and the integrity of Nigeria's democracy itself.
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