Days after it was reported that the Cable News Network (CNN) rejected political adverts from Nigerian politicians, the All Progressives Congress today successful aired a one-minute commercial on the the American international cable channel.
The TV commercial didn’t canvass for vote but rather listed the achievements of the APC governors.
Ashley Hogan-Gancarz, the account manager of CNN International, had informed earlier in the week said that CNN International doesn’t accept political or religious advertising owing to industry regulations, denying that Nigeria was being targeted.
“If you want to promote investment opportunities, etc. that would be fine but nothing to do with politics or the 2015 election, ” she said.
The one-minute video begins with the display of the images of great Nigerian icons, including Fela, Obafemi Awolowo, Ahmadu Bello and Nnamdi Azikiwe.
It then shows the APC governors in a group photograph, identifies them and lists what they have achieved in their states. The achievements listed include the Lekki-Ikoyi bridge in Lagos, hospitals in Rivers and free education in Kano.
It ends with several brooms merging, and is then signed off by Change for Democracy.
By beating the advert trap, APC may be showing the way for other political parties to be more creative with their messages in the campaigns intended for CNN International.
The channel is a the favourite among the Nigerian elite and is watched by a global audience of 200 million households and hotels in over 200 countries.
Although its advert rates are still considered reasonable it charges one of the highest premium rates in the world.