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 other broadcast stations for various poll-related offences, local media said.

17 broadcast stations were accused of airing partisan content 24 hours prior to election, three stations were sanctioned for inciting comments, while four stations were blamed for divisive ethnic or religious content.

One station 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 governorship and state assembly polls.