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From Tony Osauzo, Benin
The Edo State chapter of Labour Party (LP), Friday, warned of looming anarchy ahead of the September 21 governorship election in the state, following continuous destruction of its campaign billboards in Benin, the state capital, allegedly by agents of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP).
The governorship candidate of the party, Olumide Osaigbovo Akpata, at a press conference in Benin, told journalists that, “it is with a heavy heart laden with righteous indignation that I address you today regarding the desperate, undemocratic, and fascistic actions being employed by the incumbent administration to undermine our campaign and silence our voice—the voice of the people.
“Over the past few days, we have witnessed a coordinated, premeditated, and insidious assault on our constitutionally guaranteed rights to free speech, political expression, and the fundamental tenets of democracy itself. Billboards that I, as a law-abiding citizen and a gubernatorial candidate, legally paid for and erected across the length and breadth of Benin City have come under attack from the local government areas, who are agents of the incumbent governor, Mr Godwin Obaseki.
“In Oredo Local Government Area, two of my billboards were viciously vandalised, defaced, and ultimately torn down, with explicit threats of more removals to come. The situation is equally dire and unacceptable in Ovia North East, where two more billboards bearing my visage and these merchants of antidemocratic forces mindlessly destroyed campaign messages. In Ikpoba Okha, my campaign team has received unambiguous threats that our billboards in that area will also be targeted for elimination.
He said he has alerted the state Commissioner of Police, the Assistant Inspector General of Police, Zone 5 and the Inspector General of Police of the ugly development.
But, the state government in a statement signed by the Commissioner for Communication and Orientation, Chris Nehikhare said: “We acknowledge the concerns raised by Mr. Olumide Akpata regarding the removal of his campaign bill board. The Edo State Government condemns any form of vandalism and urges all parties involved to address such issues through proper channels.
