On Sunday, it was reported that ANSAA authorities had also begun removing all LP billboards from other major cities and towns in Anambra State and replacing them with APGA billboards.

ANSAA Managing Director Tony Ujubuonu denied that the state governor, Prof Chukwuma Soludo, ordered the removal.

"Soludo ordered the billboard at UNIZIK Temporary Site Junction to be dismantled," an LP official said. APCON-registered advertising agency paid for the ad.

“Governor Soludo has sworn that he does not want Labour Party advert in strategic areas and directed ANSAA to reimburse the money paid for the advert.

He also removed the Labour Party ad at the Afor Nnobi Gantry. The ad was paid for five months in October 2022.

Soludo ordered the Signage Agency to repay the money it received for the Labour Party advertisement. He ordered state-wide OBIdient billboard removal. He ordered it in an APGA meeting, over objections.

Vanguard reports that the state government said months before that presidential candidates would pay N10m, senatorial candidates N7m, House of Representatives candidates N5m, and state House of Assembly candidates N1m as campaign expenses.

The ANSAA managing director stated the board was removed due to a dispute with the agent that placed it.

He said: “The bridge has Labour Party billboards. We reminded political parties to pay campaign fees in August 2022.

None of them paid. Most political parties with government asset ads that haven't paid were removed.

The governor is unrelated. Governor didn't order. Show me the campaign fee payment. The ANSAA MD should know who paid.

“They didn't pay the campaign money and we spoke to their media heads multiple times. After not paying the penalty, we removed the ads.

“Anyone who talks about the governor and billboard is lying. Government reimbursed the advertising agency when the ad was deleted.

The agency that owned the board received the return, not the client.

“We deal with the advertising agency that mounted the board, not the Labour Party.”

Umeh tackles Soludo

Chief Victor Umeh, LP candidate for Anambra Central, called the conduct undemocratic and unconscionable.

Umeh threatened to sue the state government if the billboards were not restored, stating that the Independent National Electoral Commission alone regulates electoral proceedings (INEC).

"The electoral legislation does not allow campaign fees," Umeh remarked. No state can charge candidates to campaign. Nigeria and Anambra State have no such laws.

“If Soludo makes an executive order of huge fees of N10m, N7m, etc. before campaigning in the state, that's against democracy. You can't prohibit campaigning with arbitrary fees.”

Umeh said he paid N4m to his advertising companies for billboards, which paid the ANSAA for outdoor ads.

He continued, “INEC establishes campaign regulations, not state governments. State elections aren't held. Political party candidates cannot be taxed to pay state governments before campaigning. That's only Soludo's state. Soludo's 2021 governorship campaign paid who?

“I told the advertising agent to write to the state government to restore the billboard because it was a contract made with them and I paid them full and they paid ANSAA.

Why should Peter Obi pay N10m to Soludo before campaigning in Anambra State and Umeh pay N7m?

“The Electoral Law should allow any candidate to campaign for votes. Soludo violates the law. No government can require candidates to pay to campaign. After being nominated by your party to run for office, you can't campaign if you can't pay N10m or N7m.

State governments cannot tax candidates before they campaign. The Independent National Electoral Commission oversees campaigns. Political party campaigns are unregulated by government. No government can tax campaigning. Vote-seeking is free. The government cannot require payments before you run for office.

(Source: www.vanguardngr.com)