The All Progressives Congress (APC) has been ordered by Ebonyi State Governor David Umahi to pay a fine of N5 million for violating the state's Executive Order 3 of 2022.
Executive Order 3 prohibits political parties from using public areas including parks, schools, and markets for political activity without formal authorization from the state government.
Political parties are not permitted to display advertisements on state-owned land without first obtaining official approval, according to the governor's instruction from November.
The order to penalise the APC in the state is described in a statement released on Sunday in Abakaliki and signed by Mr Uchenna Orji, the state's commissioner for information and orientation.
He said that the parties had been tacking up their campaign signs on utility poles, meridian lines, concrete roads, and flyover bridges for months on end. This had angered Governor Umahi.
“These parties include the APC, the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), the Labour Party (LP) and the All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA).
“When APC flagged off its presidential and governorship campaigns in the state, it littered the infrastructures with posters, making other political parties follow suit.
Most “critical infrastructure” have been “littered with posters,” the statement said, which is illegal under state law and the Executive Order banning illegal billboards and postering.
According to Orji, Governor Umahi has therefore resolved to use his political party, the APC, to serve as an example and prevent others.
The party would have to pay a fine of N5 million for violating the law and the Executive Order.
The APC must deposit the funds into the state’s Internally Generated Revenue account and get a receipt for the transaction.
Before December 31st, “the party should publish the payment in all media platforms including social media or risk paying a default fee of 50 million,” the statement added.
And on top of that, Gov. Umahi demanded that all APC posters be taken down from public infrastructure by December 31st.
“The Governor has decided to forgive all other political parties and appeal to them to remove their posters on critical infrastructures before December 31st.
“They are to desist forthwith from defacing our facilities or face a similar penalty like APC in Ebonyi.
“The governor appeals to all political parties not to take this benevolence as a sign of weakness.
“Government will seal all secretariats and campaign offices of parties that fail to remove their posters or desist from continuous pasting of posters on critical infrastructure,” he admonished.
Moreover, Orji said Governor Umahi had outlawed any form of campaigning on the streets.
“He has directed all local government area chairmen, the Commissioner for Youths and Sports and the Commissioner for Education, among other aides, to process all applications of political parties intending to use infrastructures for campaigns.
“Any political party that is denied such opportunity and has complied with the laws of the state and the Executive Order must report to the state governor.
“Affected parties can also report to the Commissioner of Police or the Director of the State Security Service within 24 hours for immediate approval,” the statement read.