The Kwara State Government has denied allegations that it removed a campaign billboard belonging to the Peoples Democratic Party governorship candidate, Bolakale Kawu, in Ilorin for political reasons.
The controversy arose after Kawu’s media office accused the administration of Governor AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq of targeting the PDP candidate by removing his billboard at the Geri Alimi area of the state capital. The government, however, rejected the claim on Friday and said the action was linked to regulatory issues involving the company managing the advertising space.
The governor’s Senior Special Assistant on Communications, Ibraheem Abdullateef, said campaign billboards belonging to opposition politicians, including PDP members, were still displayed at different locations across Ilorin. He argued that their presence showed that the state government was not carrying out a campaign against opposition candidates.
According to Abdullateef, the advertising company responsible for the billboard, identified as Al-Mubarak, had outstanding financial obligations to the Kwara State Signage and Advertisement Agency. He said the company had also been placed under a ban but proceeded to put up Kawu’s billboard despite the restriction.
The governor’s aide further alleged that the situation might have been used to create a political dispute and make the state government appear hostile to opposition parties. He maintained that the removal was not connected to Kawu’s political affiliation or his decision to contest the 2027 governorship election.
Kawu’s media office had earlier claimed that the billboard was removed before the end of the period for which the advertising space had been paid. It said the campaign team had dealt with the consultants responsible for the space and completed the required payments and procedures with the state signage agency before the billboard was installed.
The PDP candidate’s team described the removal as an attempt to suppress political opposition and called on the state government to provide equal conditions for all candidates ahead of the 2027 election. It also urged civil society groups and other stakeholders to take an interest in what it described as political intimidation.
The campaign office said the incident would not affect its political activities or what it described as growing support for Kawu, former Senate President Bukola Saraki and the PDP across Kwara State.
The Kwara State Signage and Advertisement Agency also rejected claims that it targeted the PDP or its candidate. In a statement by its Press Secretary, Racheal Ajiboye, the agency said its enforcement action was based on the regulatory status of the billboard structure and the alleged unpaid obligations of the company operating it.
The agency advised Kawu and the PDP to seek further information from the company they rented the advertising space from. It explained that paying for an advertising space did not automatically confirm that the billboard structure had received all required approvals or that the operator had met its financial obligations to the agency.
KWASAA also raised questions about when the billboard structure was installed and whether the operator had resolved outstanding issues after an earlier enforcement action. It further questioned who approved the installation of an iron framework on the bridge where the billboard was erected.
The agency said the framework had been installed without its approval or supervision and could pose a danger to motorists and other road users. It maintained that protecting public infrastructure and ensuring the safety of residents were among the reasons it continued to enforce signage regulations.
KWASAA said its enforcement activities applied to advertisers regardless of their political party or affiliation. It therefore advised political parties, candidates and other advertisers to confirm that billboard operators and structures have the required approvals before paying for advertising spaces or putting up campaign materials.
The agency said early verification could help prevent disputes and avoid situations where campaign materials or other advertisements are removed during enforcement exercises.