Ogun governorship aspirant, Modele Sarafa-Yusuf, govt, bicker over removal of billboards

Funmi Bewaji

Abeokuta

A governorship aspirant in Ogun, Modele Sarafa-Yusuf, has accused the Ogun State Governor, Prince Dapo Abiodun, of ordering the removal of her campaign billboards located in some parts of the state capital.

Sarafa-Yusuf, who was an appointee of Abiodun disclosed this on Friday, on her Twitter page, that her findings revealed that the bill boards were removed by the signage agency on the order of the governor.

She noted in the tweets that the campaign billboards were paid for through a registered agency.

Sarafa-Yusuf tweeted, “We have reports that our billboards (properly paid for through registered agencies) are being removed. Ogun State Signage Agency sources say orders to remove are directly from Governor Dapo Abiodun.

“Electoral Act 2022 allows us to campaign in accordance with rules & regulations as may be determined by INEC. Section 95 (2) says ‘State apparatus including the media shall not be employed to the advantage or disadvantage of any political party or candidate.

“I’ve requested the ad agency to replace the materials and I urge the government and/or its agents to exercise restraint.”

The Chief Press Secretary to Governor Abiodun, Kunle Somorin, when contacted by News Contact Online, said “there was no such directive from his boss.”

Similarly, the General Manager of Ogun Signage Agency, said “the governor will stoop so low to concern himself with removal of posters or billboards.”

News Contact Online recalls that the state government had urged  political aspirants in the state to ensure strict compliance with the laws of the state’s Signage and Advertising Agency while displaying campaign materials.

In a statement recently issued by the General Manager, Ogun State Signage and Advertising Agency, Fola Onifade said all aspirants must get approval from the agency before deploying any political advertisement.

The statement warned aspirants against displaying campaign materials like posters on public facilities including bridges, bus shelters, saying actions would be taken against anyone found violating the directives

According to Fola, “The 2023 electioneering campaign season is upon us and political campaigns are beginning to surface across the state. It is, therefore, imperative to inform aspirants in all the political parties in the state to obtain relevant approvals and pay required statutory fees to the agency before any political advertisement is deployed.

“Aspirants are to note that in accordance with schedule 2(2) of the Ogun State Signage Law, all political signs shall not exceed one and half square metres on residential properties and three square meters on nonresidential properties.

“The height in all cases must not exceed two metres.

“Schedule 2(3)(8) further provides that posters/handbills shall not exceed a maximum face area of 0.5square meter and shall not be passed or displayed on the surface of any public building, fence, perimeter wall or public structures like bridges and bus shelters.

Be informed that any infractions on the above will attract immediate removal of the affected material. To avoid such situations, all aspirants are enjoined to strictly follow the provisions of the law.”