Abstract

The media as the fourth estate of the realm have the great responsibilities to set agenda for development, serve as a watchdog of the society, and ensure justice in the polity. And, radio as hot medium has great impact on the numerous heterogeneous audiences in the society, as it transcends the barrier of language, more localised, and more interactive and entertaining through infotainment. This article in historical narration explores the annulment of the June 12, 1993 Presidential election in Nigeria and how the government station, Radio Nigeria, Kaduna first broadcast the cancelation of the election by the military government of General Ibrahim Badamasi Babangida from an unsigned press statement from the Presidency. This may be considered cultural explosion from media implosion in the complex relationship between the media, government, and political power play in the continent of Africa. It argues that the orchestration of the publicity of the annulment from the radio news remains connivance with dictatorial regime of the military, and an aberration in the ethical, moral, and professional roles of the media in society. The article analyses the impact of the unprofessional act of the media on the political destiny of Nigeria and indeed African countries. While it examines the options for media renaissance on African polity, it concludes that the broadcast of news from an unsigned news release remained a big stain in the efforts of the Nigerian media to enthrone democracy.