PDP accuses Oyetola of blocking Adeleke’s campaign billboards 

By Deborah Oladejo, Osogbo

The campaign organisation of the governorship candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in Osun State has accused the All Progressives Congress (APC) led government in the state of blocking, removal or non-approval of campaign billboards of its candidate, Sen. Ademola Adeleke in strategic areas in the state.

Director, Media and Strategy, Ademola Adeleke Campaign Organisation, Mallam Olawale Rasheed, in a statement made available to Westernpost in Osogbo alleged that the state advertising agency, O-Signage had directed outdoor advertising practitioners in the state not to accept any placement from the PDP governorship candidate.

He further alleged that the state government through the agency had threatened any practitioners who tried to defy the directive with revocation of their operating licences.

The statement said: “The agency has proceeded further to pressure the outdoor practitioners to remove existing billboards of Senator Ademola Adeleke and replace them with that of Gboyega Oyetola. Aside, these invidious actions, political thugs have also been prompted to launch attacks on any billboards bearing Senator Adeleke’s posters across the state. 

“The above dictatorial conduct is in clear contravention of the Nigerian Code of Advertising Practice and an evident breach of the act setting up the Advertising Practitioners Council of Nigeria (APCON). Level playing field for all clients is a mandatory provision in the APCON Act and the Nigerian constitution guarantees equal access to public display of messages within the ambit of the law.

“O-Signage is not only setting a dangerous precedent but is acting in wanton disregard of the Constitution and relevant advertising laws in the country.

“We wonder what the Oyetola administration is afraid of by stifling equal access for advertising. If the state government is truly committed to democratic norms, why is it scared of the people getting and consuming alternative messages under the electoral system? We assure the Governor that no amount of blockages and restriction of democratic space will stop the people of Osun state from having their say. 

“The people are tired of governance deceit, cluelessness in public initiatives and abysmal failure to deliver on good governance. It is therefore not surprising that the state government is worried about the huge public goodwill and acceptability of Senator Ademola Adeleke, hence the shameful and crude act of stopping PDP billboards.

“We call on APCON and relevant regulatory agencies to take directive action on the illegal conduct of the Osun state government and the danger it portends for peaceful democratic conduct of the July 16th governorship election. We will take all necessary legal and democratic steps to secure our democratic rights to campaign and present our candidate to the people of Osun state. 

“We shall legally resist all anti-democratic forces. The will of the people must prevail. This is not 2018.”

Reacting to the allegation, Commissioner for Political Affairs and Intergovernmental Relations, Taiwo Akeju, said Oyetola did not use any agency of government to stop the PDP from campaigning.

Akeju said: “Oyetola is too democratic, too civil to have done that. They are not telling the truth. APCON should do its job, our O-Signage will also do its job.

“Regarding the destruction of posters or billboards, PDP should look for those behind such act within their party because they are still fighting over who will be candidate.”

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