Public Affairs Commentator and advocate for good governance, Otunba Ademola Akinnola, has urged Lagos State Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu to investigate allegations that government officials removed campaign banners belonging to opposition candidates while leaving those of the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) untouched.
Akinnola made the call in an open letter addressed to the governor, following reports that more than 50 campaign banners associated with Labour Party presidential candidate Peter Obi and Dr. Adefolaseye, a House of Representatives candidate in Surulere, were allegedly removed.
He described the reported development as disturbing and warned that selective removal of campaign materials could undermine confidence in the democratic process if established.
According to him, opposition parties and candidates should be allowed to campaign freely and compete on a level playing field irrespective of their political affiliations.
Allegation of Selective Enforcement
Akinnola said the alleged removal of the opposition banners, while APC campaign materials were reportedly left in place, raised questions about whether government authorities were applying regulations impartially.
“If these reports are true, then what we are witnessing is a blatant abuse of power and a calculated attempt to intimidate the opposition,” he said.
He appealed to Sanwo-Olu to establish the facts surrounding the allegations, stressing that the governor’s response could help determine whether the incidents were the result of legitimate enforcement activities or political interference.
The commentator said he regarded the governor as a liberal and “complete gentleman”, but warned that officials operating under his administration could damage his reputation if they abused their positions.
‘Democracy Is Not a Favour’
Akinnola argued that the right to participate in the political process should not depend on whether a candidate belongs to the ruling party or an opposition group.
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“Democracy is not a favour the ruling party grants to the opposition; it is a binding obligation to the people,” he said.
He maintained that every candidate should be able to reach voters, communicate political ideas and seek electoral support without intimidation or interference by government authorities.
He also called attention to the constitutional principle of equal political participation, arguing that Lagos residents and political candidates should enjoy the same democratic freedoms expected for Nigerians campaigning in other parts of the country.
Ethnicity Should Not Determine Political Rights
The commentator also rejected the argument that Lagos’ cultural or political identity should determine which candidates can campaign freely in the state.
He noted that Lagos is predominantly Yoruba-speaking and that President Bola Tinubu, a major figure in the APC, has deep political roots in the state.
However, he argued that such factors should not diminish the rights of candidates from other political parties or ethnic backgrounds to seek votes in Lagos.
“The same rights we demand for our candidates in other states must be the same rights we guarantee to opposition candidates in Lagos,” Akinnola said, describing this as fundamental to fairness, federalism and justice.
Warning of Political Backfire
Akinnola further warned that attempts to suppress opposition campaign visibility could ultimately produce the opposite of the intended effect.
He argued that removing campaign materials could generate public sympathy for the affected candidates and encourage voters to question the motivation behind such actions.
According to him, efforts to reduce Peter Obi’s visibility through the removal of campaign materials would not eliminate his name from the ballot or his political influence among voters.
“You cannot remove a candidate from the ballot or from the people’s consciousness by ripping down billboards,” he said.
He described such actions, if established, as “political self-sabotage disguised as strategy”.
Call for Immediate Investigation
Akinnola urged the governor to order an investigation into the reported removal of the campaign materials and ensure that any enforcement of advertising or campaign regulations is carried out transparently and without political bias.
“If the information is untrue, let the facts be established,” he said.
“But if government officials are selectively removing opposition campaign materials while leaving those of the ruling party untouched, they should be cautioned and brought under control.”