PDP Kicks As Benue Bans Erection Of Campaign Billboards, Posters

The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in Benue State has expressed concern over a public notice issued by the Benue State Environmental Sanitation Authority (BENSESA), purporting to impose restrictions on the erection of billboards and posting of campaign posters by political parties, candidates and campaign organisations across the state ahead of the 2027 polls.

In a statement by the PDP state publicity secretary, Bright Yima Antyo, on Friday, the party condemned the directive, saying it is a calculated attempt by the Governor Hyacinth Alia administration to suppress political activities, intimidate opposition parties and undermine the democratic rights of citizens ahead of the elections.

“While we support environmental sanitation and orderly urban development, we reject any attempt to use a government agency as a political tool to frustrate legitimate political engagement and freedom of expression guaranteed under the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, 1999 (as amended),” the PDP said.

Meanwhile, the Benue State Government has said permission must be granted before political parties, candidates can erect campaign billboards, pasting of posters across the state.
The decision of the government was contained in a statement issued by the general manager of BENSESA, Anta Igbaato.

“Be informed that Section 14(a) of BENSESA Law 2005 States that ‘No person shall paste any handbill, poster, notice, sign or advertisement on any street, public or private property without the permission of the Authority.’ Section 14(b) empowers the Authority to ‘remove, deface or destroy any notice, handbill, sign, advertisement or poster erected or pasted without the approval of the Authority.’

“Consequently, all Political Parties must seek approval for location of their billboards as section 15 empowers BENSESA as the full custodian of all road setbacks within the state. Permission must therefore be granted by BENSESA before pasting of posters and handbills as well as erection of billboards. Failure of which will attract the use of section 14(b) of BENSESA Law 2005 accordingly,” the statement warned.