Gov Ortom Calls for Campaign without Intimidation or Molestation
Benue State Governor Samuel Ortom has warned anyone damaging political opponents’ campaign signs, billboards, and other advertising materials to stop or prepare to face the consequences of their actions.
The governor stated that his administration would not allow such behaviour from any PDP or opposition party supporters because he is committed to ensuring everyone has an equal opportunity to succeed.
The Governor declared that democracy protects everyone’s freedom to campaign without intimidation or molestation in a statement released in Makurdi by his Special Adviser on Media and Publicity, Terver Akase.
He emphasised that no person or organisation has the authority to remove an opponent’s campaign materials for any reason at all, and he vowed not to let it in the state.
Terver Akase, the Governor’s Special Adviser for Media and Publicity, released a statement in Makurdi that read in part, “Democracy ensures freedom for everyone to campaign without harassment or molestation.”
The Governor said, “as a government, we will not allow anyone to destroy the campaign posters, billboards and other campaign materials of political opponents in Benue state. We will not tolerate it because the law frowns on it.
“We warn anyone involved to desist or be prepared to face the law if caught because we will not condone such from anyone.”
To avoid defacing Makurdi and other towns in the state with the careless placement of campaign materials, he still asked political parties, their candidates, and their supporters always to ensure that their billboards and posters were erected in authorised sites.
Anyone planning to install a billboard in the state was encouraged by Governor Ortom to do so only after obtaining the necessary government agencies’ consent.
