Kwara denies victimising PDP gov candidate over billboard removal

Kwara State Governor, AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq. Photo: Kwara State Government.

The Kwara State Government has denied victimising the Peoples Democratic Party governorship candidate in the state, Bolakale Kawu, over the removal of his campaign billboard in Ilorin.
The denial followed allegations by Kawu’s media office that his billboard was removed for political reasons.
The Senior Special Assistant to Governor AbdulRazaq on Communications, Ibraheem Abdullateef, on Friday dismissed the allegation, saying opposition campaign materials remained visible across the state capital.
“The removal of the PDP gubernatorial candidate’s campaign billboard in Geri Alimi has nothing to do with politics. There are several campaign billboards of opposition candidates and even PDP across the state capital,” Abdullateef said.
He explained that the advertising company managing the space, identified as Al-Mubarak, was allegedly indebted to the Kwara State Signage and Advertisement Agency and had been banned from operating.
“The real issue which they are trying to bury is that the agent managing the space for that billboard, known as Al-Mubarak, is seriously indebted to KWASAA.
“A ban was placed on the company, but it went ahead to erect the billboard of the PDP gubernatorial candidate when the ban has not been lifted,” the governor’s aide stated.
He further alleged that the development could have been an attempt to create a political controversy and portray the state government negatively.
“It appears to be a connivance between the opposition party and the agent just to paint the Kwara State Government bad,” Abdullateef alleged.
The governor’s aide added that the presence of opposition campaign materials across Ilorin was evidence that the government was not discriminating against political parties in the placement of billboards.
“We have PDP billboards almost everywhere in the state,” he said.
Kawu’s media office had on Thursday accused the AbdulRazaq administration of political oppression over the removal of the billboard, alleging that it was taken down before the expiration of the agreed rental period.
The media office said representatives of the campaign had approached the consultants managing the advertising spaces and completed the necessary payment and procedures with KWASAA before the billboard was mounted. 2027: Kwara NDC gov candidate flags off campaign, unveils agenda Customs intercept N604m contraband in Kwara Kwara APC members defect to PDP
It alleged that the billboard was removed after authorities discovered that the space was being used to display Kawu’s image and political message ahead of the 2027 governorship election.

“Such conduct is unacceptable in a democratic society,” Kawu’s media office said while condemning the alleged removal.
Kawu called on the state government to provide a level playing field for all political parties and candidates, while urging civil society organisations and other stakeholders to speak out against what he described as political intimidation.
The media office also maintained that the removal of campaign materials would not affect what it described as growing support for its principal, former Senate President Bukola Saraki, and the PDP across the state.
Meanwhile, KWASAA, in its reaction to the controversy, denied targeting the PDP candidate or any political party, saying its enforcement action was based on the approval status of the billboard structure and outstanding obligations allegedly owed by its operator.
In a statement issued by its Press Secretary, Racheal Ajiboye, the agency said: “The enforcement concerns the approval status of the structure and the operator’s outstanding obligations to the Agency. It was not directed at any political party or candidate.”
KWASAA advised the PDP and Kawu to seek clarification from the operator from whom they rented the advertising space, stressing that payment for a billboard did not automatically mean that the structure had the necessary regulatory approvals.
“A rental payment does not establish that a billboard structure has the necessary approvals or that its operator has fulfilled outstanding obligations,” the agency stated.
The agency also questioned whether the structure existed at the location a week before the enforcement, whether the operator had settled outstanding obligations following an earlier enforcement action and who authorised the installation of the iron framework on the bridge.
“The iron framework was installed without the Agency’s approval or supervision. An improperly installed structure could endanger road users, and the Agency cannot ignore such risks,” KWASAA stated.
The agency said the safety of residents and protection of public infrastructure remained non-negotiable, adding that it would continue to enforce signage regulations irrespective of the political affiliation of advertisers.
KWASAA consequently advised political parties, candidates and other advertisers to verify the approval status of advertising structures and the compliance status of operators before making payments or installing campaign materials.
The agency said such verification would help prevent disputes and disruption arising from enforcement actions, while maintaining that it remained open to enquiries and complaints from members of the public and stakeholders.

Toheeb Omotayo

Stay informed and ahead of the curve! Follow The Punch Newspaper on WhatsApp for real-time updates, breaking news, and exclusive content. Don’t miss a headline – join now!

Stay in the know—fast. Get instant alerts, breaking headlines, and exclusive stories with the Punch News App. Download now and never miss a beat.