APC Must Pay N5m for contravening order on campaign venues – Gov. Umahi

Gov. David Umahi of Ebonyi ordered the All Progressives Congress (APC) in the state to pay a N5 million fine for breaking the terms of Executive Order 3 of 2022.

Political parties are forbidden by Executive Order 3 from engaging in political activity without first requesting and receiving the necessary permission from the state government.

The order, which the governor signed in November, forbids political parties from affixing posters on vital infrastructure without first gaining governmental approval.

A statement issued on Sunday in Abakaliki and signed by the state’s commissioner for information and orientation, Mr. Uchenna Orji, contains the order for the punishment imposed on the APC.

He stated that Gov. Umahi was saddened by parties’ continuous pasting of posters on electric poles, meridians, concrete roads, and on flyover bridges.

“These parties include the APC, the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) the Labour Party (LP) and the All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA).

“When APC flagged off its presidential and governorship campaigns in the state, it littered the infrastructures with posters and that made other political parties to follow suit.

“Most of the critical infrastructure have been littered with posters against the laws of the state government and the Executive Order regarding the pasting of posters and billboards,’’ the statement noted.

Orji noted that Gov. Umahi had consequently decided to use his political party, the APC to set example as a deterrent to others.

“The party is thus fined N5 million for contravening the law and the Executive Order.

“The APC must pay the money to the state’s Internally Generated Revenue account and obtain a receipt.

“The party should publish the payment in all media platforms including the social media before Dec. 31 or risk paying a default fee of 50 million,’’ the statement read.

Gov. Umahi also ordered the APC to remove all posters on pasted infrastructures before Dec. 31.

“The Governor has decided to forgive all other political parties and appeal to them to remove their posters on critical infrastructures before Dec. 31.

“They are to desist forthwith from defacing our facilities or face similar penalty like APC in Ebonyi.

“The governor appeals to all political parties not to take this benevolence as a sign of weakness.

“Government will seal all secretariats and campaign offices of parties that fail to remove their posters or desist from continuous pasting of posters on critical infrastructure,’’ he warned.

Orji stated also that Gov. Umahi had banned all street campaigns in the state.

“He has directed all local government area chairmen, the Commissioner for Youths and Sports and the Commissioner for Education among other aides, to process all applications of political parties intending to use infrastructures for campaigns.

“Any political party that is denied such opportunity and has complied with the laws of the state and the Executive Order must report to the state governor.

“Affected parties can also report to the Commissioner of Police or the Director of the State Security Service within 24 hours for immediate approval,’’ the statement read.