A dispute has erupted between the African Democratic Congress (ADC) and the Plateau State Government over a N69.5 million fine imposed on the party for allegedly violating Executive Order 003. The order regulates the display of political posters in the state. According to the ADC, the fine is a result of selective enforcement, as posters of Governor Caleb Mutfwang and President Bola Tinubu remain visible on public infrastructure.
The ADC's state Publicity Secretary, Silas Audu Wettok, addressed journalists in Jos, demanding the withdrawal or suspension of the fine pending a transparent review. Wettok insisted that regulations should be enforced fairly across all political parties. He stated that the party's objection is not to legitimate regulation but to the apparent selective enforcement of the order. The ADC also urged the government to focus more on tackling insecurity in the state.
The Plateau State Government has dismissed allegations of bias, maintaining that the directive applies to all parties without exception. General Manager of the Plateau Metropolitan Development Agency, Hart Bankat, revealed that 139 posters were removed from the Secretariat Bridge, attracting fines totalling N69.5 million at N500,000 per poster. According to him, both the ADC and the All Progressives Congress (APC) have been sanctioned under the same order.
Bankat claimed that evidence exists showing the removal of posters bearing the images of Tinubu and Mutfwang from prohibited locations. He further alleged that some ADC posters had been displayed within the premises of a primary school, raising concerns about the use of public facilities for political campaigns. The agency chief warned that campaign and party offices found violating the directive could be sealed off within seven days.
The policy, according to Bankat, is aimed at protecting public infrastructure and preserving the environment rather than targeting any political group. He emphasized that the fine is for the good of the Plateau people, not for any other reason. The ADC, meanwhile, insisted that the fine would not deter its preparations for future elections.
The party renewed its call for equal treatment of all political parties in the state. The ADC and the Plateau State Government have yet to resolve the issue, with the party seeking a transparent review of the fine. The government's stance on the matter remains that the directive is applied fairly to all parties.
The face-off between the ADC and the Plateau State Government highlights the challenges of enforcing regulations on political campaigns in Nigeria. The issue has sparked a debate on the fairness and effectiveness of Executive Order 003 in regulating political posters.
Key points
- The African Democratic Congress and Plateau State Government are in a dispute over a N69.5 million fine imposed on the party for allegedly violating Executive Order 003.
- The ADC accused the government of selective enforcement, while the government claims that the directive applies to all parties without exception.
- The issue has sparked a debate on the fairness and effectiveness of Executive Order 003 in regulating political posters.
