Campaigns: Police to arrest, prosecute billboard, poster vandals

Concerned about the rising attacks and destruction of posters and billboards belonging to opposition political parties in some states, the police have warned governing parties and persons perpetrating the act to desist from doing so or face arrest and prosecution.

The Force Public Relations Officer, Muyiwa Adejobi, pointed out that defacing posters and destroying billboards were criminal. He called on candidates and political parties to rein in their supporters.

About 99 days to the 2023 elections, our correspondents across the states reported that vandalism of campaign billboards and posters, especially those of respective opposition parties, was on the increase with some instances leading to confrontations and violence.

The Inspector-General of Police, Usman Baba, said he had received reports of governors encouraging political thugs and sub-national security outfits under their control to disrupt the campaigns of other parties and vandalise billboards.

The National Peace Committee on Tuesday said the conduct of some political actors had been disappointing. In a release signed by its chairman, General Abdusalami Abubakar (retd.); the convener, Revd Matthew Kukah; and head of secretariat, Dr Atta Barkindo, the committee called for a level playing field for all parties in the course of the campaigns.

The release, titled ‘Towards peaceful election campaigns: Our concerns’ added, “It is morally wrong to abuse the power of incumbency by subverting the efforts of those who are in opposition to the status quo.”

Police vow crackdown

In an interview with one of our correspondents, however, the Force PRO said, “It is a criminal offence under the criminal and penal codes and the Electoral Act (2022) to tear or destroy campaign posters or billboards. The police frown upon this act as it is barbaric and poor sportsmanship.

“Candidates should urge their supporters to desist from such, as anyone found wanting will be prosecuted. There’s usually some difficulty in arresting the perpetrators because they usually carry out such illegal activities at night, but anyone caught will be prosecuted and this is a warning to such individuals, groups or parties.”

Oyo suspects arrested

Meanwhile, the Oyo State Police Command said it had arrested some suspects and would soon prosecute them.

The command spokesperson, Wale Osifeso, said, “The command has responded swiftly to every reported and documented cases of malicious damage to billboards and other properties especially as we approach the general elections.

“However, parents, guardians and leaders wielding various degrees of influence are enjoined to prevail on their children, wards and proteges against being used as agents of mischief. We have arrested some suspects in Oyo State and anyone found culpable will be prosecuted.”

In Abuja, the spokesperson for the Federal Capital Territory Police Command, Josephine Adeh, said the command had yet to make any arrest but that usually it mediates in such situations to douse tension.

Also, the spokesperson for the Lagos State Police Command, Benjamin Hundeyin, said, “We haven’t arrested anyone, but if anyone is found culpable, they will be prosecuted.”

Attacks in states

Meanwhile, opposition parties in some states have accused governing parties of intimidating them and using thugs to tear their posters and billboards.

In Oyo State, some opposition candidates accused the ruling Peoples Democratic Party-led government of sponsoring members of the Park Management System, led by Lamidi Mukaila, aka Auxiliary, to vandalise their materials.

About a week ago, an unidentified man was reportedly electrocuted in the process of destroying the campaign billboard of the governorship candidate of the Accord Party, Adebayo Adelabu, popularly known as Penkelemesi.

Also, a House of Representatives candidate in Ibadan North East/Ibadan South East federal constituency on the platform of the Social Democratic Party, Deji Aboderin, said his campaign billboards in Ibadan were destroyed.

Aboderin, who accused some party agents of masterminding the act, said, “All my campaign billboards have been destroyed. At a particular location, my campaign material was on a billboard while that of the PDP candidate, Abass Adigun Agboworin, was at the back. They did not touch his but they destroyed mine. It is sponsored. I call on the security agencies to look into this.”


A former Attorney General of the state and governorship candidate on the SDP platform, Mr Michael Lana, called on the police to launch an investigation into the destruction of campaign billboards of opposition candidates in the state.

In a telephone interview with our correspondents, he said, “I did a petition to the police on the destruction of my billboards but nothing was done. We had 18 billboards and we paid the necessary fees but I doubt if just one is remaining now.

“Those destroying the billboards target the opposition only. They destroyed billboards and posters of the Accord Party, SDP, New Nigeria Peoples Party and All Progressives Congress but they didn’t touch PDP billboards and posters. Those behind this should be arrested and brought to justice.”

The APC Publicity Secretary in the state, Olawale Shadare, also accused the Park Management System of being used to destroy posters and billboards.

Although the chairman of the Disciplinary Committee of PMS could not be reached, the Public Relations Officer, Emiola Jelili, asked opposition parties to look for their attackers within their parties, saying the PMS knew nothing about such attacks.

He said, “We are aware that opposition parties are just looking for ways to tarnish the image of Auxiliary (Mukaila). They should stop accusing Auxiliary wrongfully.”

Kwara SDP, PDP

In Kwara State, the PDP and SDP said they had been facing intimidation from the APC-led government in the state.

PDP Publicity Secretary, Tunji Morohunfoye, alleged that some billboards of the party’s governorship candidate, Alhaji Yaman Abdullahi, at Unity Road and GSS area, on Maraba/Sango Road in Ilorin were vandalised. He said the vandalised billboard was in the same area with that of the APC candidate (and incumbent governor, AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq).

He said the matter was reported to the Department of State Services, stressing that the party had been subjected to subtle victimisation by the APC government in the state.

The Publicity Secretary of the SDP, Ibrahim Sharafadeen, alleged that some billboards belonging to the party’s governorship candidate, Hakeem Lawal, at the Ilorin International Airport area were vandalised.

He said the party was compiling the incidents and would file an official complaint.

The governor’s Chief Press Secretary, Rafiu Ajakaye, and the Commissioner for Communication, Olabode Towoju, didn’t answer their calls.

The Police Public Relations officer in the state, SP Okasanmi Ajayi, said no official report of intimidation had been made to the police by any party.