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Lastest News Nigeria, Politics, Business, Sport, Interview
Mr Peter Obi, the Labour Party’s presidential candidate, had his campaign billboard demolished by the Anambra State Signage and Advertisement Agency.
Obi’s large billboard at the Nnamdi Azikiwe University Temporary Site Flyover was removed on Saturday, along with Chief Victor Umeh, the party’s candidate for the Anambra Central Senatorial District.
The Anambra State Government directed presidential candidates to pay N10 million, senatorial candidates to pay N7 million, House of Representatives candidates to pay N5 million, and state House of Assembly candidates to pay N1 million as campaign fees before mounting any billboard or pasting posters in August 2022.
Speaking on the development on Sunday, Mr Tony Ujubuonu, Managing Director of ANSAA, stated that, contrary to popular belief, the removal of the billboards had no political undertone, but that the affected candidates failed to follow the procedures.
“In August and October 2022, ANSAA sent out a letter to all political parties in Anambra to obtain political campaign permits, which would enable them to enjoy campaigns throughout the state and have access to rent available government outdoor media assets and public spaces,” he said in part.
“Before beginning enforcement in November 2022, ANSAA ran a one-week sensitization paid advertisement campaign in the media in case anyone missed the previously formally communicated information.”
In response to the development, the state chairman of the Labour Party, Mr Ugochukwu Emmanuel, said on Sunday that the state government’s hostility toward Obi has escalated.
“We paid in obedience to a government order,” Emmanuel said in part. Our request to place mini billboards on streetlight poles along the expressway was denied, but it is clear that billboards for other candidates from other parties are placed on the same poles.
When contacted, Christian Aburime, Soludo’s Press Secretary, said the state government was looking into the situation and would issue a press statement soon.
