Plateau Govt Defends ₦69.5m Fine On Political Posters, Says APC, ADC Affected

The Plateau State Government says it will enforce Executive Order 003 on the display of political posters across the state, warning that campaign offices and party offices found violating the directive will be sealed within the next seven days, regardless of political affiliation.

The General Manager of the Plateau Metropolitan Development Agency, Hart Bankat, gave the warning in response to complaints by the African Democratic Congress (ADC) over a fine reportedly imposed on the party and its governorship candidate for displaying campaign posters on public infrastructure.

Bankat said the enforcement exercise was not targeted at any political party, insisting that both the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) and the ADC had been fined for violating the directive.

He disclosed that 139 posters were removed from the Secretariat Bridge, attracting a total fine of 69.5 million naira at 500,000 naira per poster.

The agency’s General Manager said video evidence was available showing the removal of posters bearing the images of President Bola Tinubu and Governor Caleb Mutfwang from the bridge.

Bankat maintained that the same rules applied to all political parties and urged those affected by the sanctions to seek clarification in accordance with the law.

He also alleged that ADC campaign posters were displayed in a primary school, raising concerns about the use of public facilities for political advertisements.

According to him, the directive is intended to protect public infrastructure and preserve the environment, adding that citizens must take responsibility for maintaining public facilities.

“There is nobody who is coming to fix this road for us if we don’t fix it by ourselves. We are only soliciting and saying, ‘Don’t put your posters on public infrastructure,'” Bankat said.

He urged residents to separate politics from governance, stressing that the enforcement of the order was intended to benefit the people of Plateau State rather than serve partisan interests.

“APC has been fined, and ADC has also been fined. It is left to them. The fine is for the good of the Plateau people, not for anything,” he said.

Bankat also called on residents to report any political posters displayed on public infrastructure, assuring them that the agency would take action on reported violations.

The ADC had earlier accused the state government of selective enforcement of Executive Order 003, following the reported fine imposed on the party and its governorship candidate.

In a statement issued on Saturday by its Plateau State Publicity Secretary, Silas Wettok, the party demanded the withdrawal or suspension of the disputed fine pending a fair review.

The ADC argued that posters bearing the images of the governor and the president were still visible on public facilities within the same restricted area, questioning why its own campaign materials had attracted sanctions.

While acknowledging the need to protect public infrastructure, the party called for equal enforcement of the directive against all political parties and a public explanation from the agency.

The ADC also raised concerns about insecurity in the state, urging the government to give equal urgency to protecting lives and property.

The exchange comes amid preparations for forthcoming elections, with the ADC insisting that the disputed fine would not deter its political activities and the state government maintaining that enforcement of the order would apply to all parties.

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