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Nigeria has sanctioned about 25 broadcast stations for failing to adhere to broadcasting laws while covering last month's general elections.

The National Broadcasting Commission (NBC) has also issued a final warning to 16 others for various poll-related offences, local media said.

-Seventeen stations were accused of airing partisan content 24 hours prior to election

-Three were sanctioned for inciting comments

-Four were said to have aired divisive ethnic or religious content

-One was sanctioned for announcing results ahead of an official announcement by the electoral commission.

“Subversive discussions and reckless comments, capable of tearing us apart as a people were broadcast freely without proper gatekeeping. Ethics and professionalism were thrown overboard," the director-general of NBC, Balarabe Ilelah, said.

Mr Ilelah urged all broadcast stations to adhere to the provisions of laws on broadcasting ahead of Saturday’s gubernatorial and state assembly polls.