Non-Indigenes in Ideato Condemn Alleged Plan to Destroy Ugochinyere’s Campaign Billboards
By Kelechi Ugo
Non-indigenes residing in Ideato North and South Federal Constituency of Imo State have condemned what they described as a purported plan by government agents to destroy campaign billboards mounted by the Action Peoples Party (APP) Candidate for the Federal Constituency, Hon. Barr. Ikenga Imo Ugochinyere.
Ugochinyere, the incumbent member representing Ideato North and South Federal Constituency in the House of Representatives, is seeking re-election under the platform of the Action Peoples Party (APP).
The non-indigenes expressed their displeasure during a fact-finding tour of some communities in Ideato by journalists,to ascertain the true position of the alleged attempts by suspected government and APC agents to remove or destroy Ugochinyere's campaign billboards.
Speaking during the tour, the Financial Secretary of the Non-Indigenes in Ideato, Mr. Jimeyon Akpan, condemned the alleged development, describing the purported destruction of campaign billboards as a threat to democratic participation and political freedom.
Akpan, a native of Akwa Ibom State who said he had lived in Akokwa for over 30 years, alleged that the destruction of Ugochinyere's campaign billboards by suspected agents of the Imo State Government had become a recurring incident.
He maintained that political candidates should be allowed to campaign freely, provided they comply with the relevant regulations, stressing that Ugochinyere had demonstrated capacity through what he described as effective representation.
According to him, attempts to intimidate or frustrate a candidate's campaign should not be encouraged in a democracy.
Another non-indigene, Mrs. Rosemary Ani, said the development would not change their political decision, declaring that they had resolved to support Ugochinyere despite what she described as intimidation.
She said the non-indigenes living in Ideato had the right to freely choose the candidate they believed could best represent their interests.
Meanwhile, the Media Director of the Grassroot Development Forum for Ikenga Ugochinyere, Mr. Charles Ikenna Okeafor, explained that the campaign organisation had complied with the requirements of the Imo State Signage and Advertisement Agency (IMSAA) before erecting its billboards.
Okeafor disclosed that four APP candidates contesting elections in the affected areas had paid for their campaign billboards, including the APP senatorial candidate for Orlu Zone, the House of Representatives candidate for Ideato North and South Federal Constituency, and the candidates for Ideato North and Ideato South State Constituencies in the Imo State House of Assembly.
He disclosed that IMSAA had, about two months ago, written to the campaign organisation demanding payment of the application fee, site inspection fee and site approval fee for the campaign billboards.
According to him, the campaign organisation subsequently paid more than N13 million into the Imo State Single Treasury Account, as directed by IMSAA.
“IMSAA wrote us two months ago demanding payment of application fee, site inspection fee and site approval fee for billboards campaign. And we paid over N13 million into Imo State Single Treasury Account as directed by IMSAA.
“We have our payment receipts. It is unfortunate that local government authorities have continued to threaten to destroy our campaign billboards, claiming that they were not paid for.
“We have made all the necessary payments, waiting for IMSAA to give us certificate of compliance,” Okeafor said.
The development has generated concern among supporters of the APP candidate, who are calling for the relevant authorities to ensure that political campaigns are conducted in accordance with the law and that all candidates are given a level playing field ahead of the 2027 general elections.
They also urged the appropriate authorities to investigate the alleged threats of billboard destruction and clarify the status of the campaign signage approvals.
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