We never rejected or denied APC broadcast space —AIT •Challenges Garba Shehu to show evidence of denial

THE management of DAAR Communications, owners of Africa Independent Television (AIT), has denied allegations that it exhibited bias against the presidential campaign of Muhammadu Buhari, ahead the March 28 election.

This was as the company refuted claims that it denied the All Progressives Congress (APC) considerable airtime on its medium.

In a statement issued by the management of DAAR Communications, following a statement credited to the head of President Muhammadu Buhari media team, Garba Shehu, said “we wish to state categorically and emphatically that at no time did we reject or deny the presidential candidate of the APC broadcast space on our station – Africa Independent Television (AIT).

“It has always been our policy to open up the democratic space to all the broad spectrum of actors in the political horizon.

“For the benefit of discerning members of the public and political academics who will obviously document some facts for historical purposes and the stock of public information compendium, we hereby challenge Mallam Garba Shehu to state the names of the officer(s)/department(s) that he dealt with, wherein the materials that he wanted aired were outrightly rejected.”

It added that “we feel pained, disappointed and betrayed by the allegation of maltreatment of APC presidential campaigns by Mallam Garba Shehu who, at various times, requested for unusual discounts and concessions, at short notices, which we often obliged in our spirited efforts of ensuring that we engaged all political parties; most especially the APC in our broadcasts so that we would be fair to all parties.”