Anambra destroys Peter Obi’s billboards - LP protests

Billboards belonging to presidential candidate of the Labour Party, Peter Obi has been pulled down in his home state of Anambra.

The dismantling of the campaign billboards and posters was carried out by the Anambra State Signage and Advertisement Agency.

Peter Obi’s billboard located at the Nnamdi Azikwe University Temporary Site Flyover was taken down on Saturday, January 14 alongside the party’s Senatorial candidate for Anambra Central District, Chief Victor Umeh.

According to the Anambra state government, this move was in directive of the campaign fees the Labour Party candidates have failed to comply to before mounting their billboards. It noted that in August 2022, the presidential candidates were asked to pay N10m, senatorial N7m, House of Representatives N5, and state House of Assembly N1m.

The Managing Director of ANSAA, Mr Tony Ujubuonu, said on Sunday, said the pulling down of Obi’s billboards was not political as many believe but that the candidates refused to comply with the directive.

“In August and October 2022, ANSAA sent out a letter to all the political parties in Anambra to obtain political campaign permits which would enable them to enjoy campaigns around the state and have access to rent available government outdoor media assets and public spaces.

“Before commencing enforcement in November 2022, ANSAA ran a one-week sensitisation paid adverts in the media in case someone missed the earlier formally communicated information.”

Reacting to the development, the state chairman of the Labour Party, Ugochukwu Emmanuel, accused the state government of antagonizing Peter Obi’s candidacy.

“We paid in obedience to a government order. Our application to hoist mini billboards on the streetlight poles along the expressway was rejected but it is evident that the same billboards of other candidates of other parties are hoisted on the same poles,” Emmanuel partly said.

BS