Political parties in Abia North worried over destruction of billboards

After several years of being under the rulership of the military, Nigerians in 1999 heaved a sigh of relief when power was returned back to a democratically elected government at the federal and 36 states of the federating states.

Constitutionally, a new government is expected to be elected or the serving government reelected at least for a second term; for President and governors for another term of 4 or 8 years as the case may be.

As the election approaches, it is usually expected that posters and billboards of aspirants and candidates of different political parties flood and compete for space on the streets of major cities and areas of political dominance of various aspirants and candidates.

While other states of the country would not be immune to the act of billboard destruction, it seems to be a routine in Abia State during electioneering period.

Findings by this platform revealed that destruction of campaign billboards and ban on pasting of posters of candidates or aspirants who seems to be a headache to the ruling party in the state is seeing as a way to whittle down the popularity of such aspirant or candidate in the state.

In 2014, it was learnt that various billboards of then guber candidate of the All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA), Dr. Alex Otti whose popularity was building by the day in 2014 was reportedly torn and pulled down by then government in the state even after he (Otti) was said to have met all financial requirements for such advertorials.

Then Director General Otti campaign Organization, Chief Ahamdi Nweke addressing journalists over the development described the actions of the perpetrators as cowardly.

Less than 8 months to the general elections, the trend seems to be raising its ugly head in the state.

Information gathered by infonet9ja.com has it that destruction of billboards in Abia North has started becoming almost a daily occurrence.

Pictures available to us show that billboards of Dr. Orji Uzor Kalu and Barrister Benjamin Kalu were all destroyed; two major All Progressives Congress (APC) aspirants for Abia North Senatorial and Federal House of Representatives aspirants in 2019 general elections respectively.

Few days ago, PDP billboards carrying the face of Governor Okezie Ikpeazu, Chima Anyanso and Rt. Hon. Cosmos Ndukwe were also destroyed.

Sources in the area told this medium that the PDP and APC have been pointing accusing fingers at each other.

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