A west Belfast man who intends to stand in next year's council elections has accused the BBC of "bias" after he was banned from the audience of a current affairs show.
Human rights campaigner Ciaran Mulholland, who is also a well-known figure in the legal profession, said he was allocated tickets for the spotlight special programme recorded last Tuesday.
However, just hours before the show was due to be recorded he was contacted by the BBC and told he would not be allowed to take his seat. the panel on the question and answer programme included Sinn Fein education minister John O'Dowd and DUP enterprise minister Arlene Foster.
Mr Mulholland said he applied for tickets and was contacted by a spotlight staff member who asked him what questions he would put to panelists.
He said he revealed at that point his intention to run in next year's local government elections on an independent ticket, but was sent the tickets without question.
In January the BBC also faced bias accusations after dozens of loyalists packed the studio of a Stephen Nolan TV show and heckled nationalist politicians.
At the time corporation chiefs refused to reveal how many complaints it received from members of the public.
Mr Mulholland believes he has been unfairly treated.
"they said they revoked my invite because I was a 'politician'," he said.
"I think it was an over-zealous approach and utterly biased and discriminatory.
"They only want to provide a platform for the political status quo and people who offer an alternative view don't seem to get an equal opportunity."
A spokeswoman for the BBC said as far as she is aware there is no written criteria for audience selection on programmes.
However, she added: "spotlight special gives ordinary members of the public a chance to put questions to a panel and have their say.
"On that basis, audiences for this programme do not normally include elected representatives or those who declare an interest in participating in upcoming elections."