Gov. Umahi fines Ebonyi APC N5 million for violating campaign venue orders

The Ebonyi State Government has fined the All Progressives Congress, APC, five million naira for violating the state’s Executive Order 3 of 2022.

Executive Order 3 forbids political parties from conducting political activities in public places such as parks, markets, and schools without first obtaining permission from the state government.

Remember that Governor David Umahi signed an order in November prohibiting parties from using critical infrastructure for postering without state permission and from using public facilities for campaigning.

According to a statement issued on Sunday by the state’s Commissioner for Information and Orientation, Uchenna Orji, the governor was saddened by political parties’ continued pasting of posters on meridians, electric poles, flyover bridges, and concrete roads.

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

“When the APC launched its governorship and presidential campaigns in the state, it littered the infrastructure with posters, prompting other political parties to do the same. The majority of critical infrastructure has been littered with posters in violation of state law and the Executive Order prohibiting the pasting of posters and billboards.”

Orji noted that the governor had thus decided to use his own political party, the APC, as a deterrent to others. As a result, the party has been fined N5 million for violating the Executive Order.

“The All Progressive Congress must pay the money to Ebonyi State’s Internally Generated Revenue account, obtain a receipt and publish the payment in all media platforms before 31st of December or risk a N50 million default fee.

“The Governor, however, decided to forgive other political parties and appeal to them to remove their posters on critical infrastructures before 31st December.

“The government will seal the secretariats and campaign offices of all parties that do not remove posters or refrain from continuous pasting of posters on critical infrastructure,” Umahi warned.

In addition, Governor Umahi prohibited all street campaigns in the state.