Politico Politico News
Ahead of the November 11 governorship election in Kogi State, the State Signage and Advertisement Agency, KOSSAA, has banned campaign posters from Lokoja, the state capital, besides other guidelines on the use of campaign materials.
A statement by the General Manager of the agency, Osaseyi Richard, urged all political parties, candidates, politicians and supporters to abide by the guidelines.
The agency noted that the development is in accordance with its mandate to control and regulate advert displays in the state, as provided under Section 5(1)(a-o) of the Kogi State Signage and Advertisement Law, 2022.
While warning that defaulters, or anyone involved in any form of impunity, lawlessness in the deployment of political campaign materials would be made to face the consequences of their actions, the agency banned campaign posters of all candidates in Lokoja metropolis, Kabba/Bunu, ljumu, Yagba West, Ankpa, Idah, Ayingba, Adavi, Okene and Okehi towns.
KOSSAA disclosed that it was poised to assisting all political parties, politicians, and supporters in ensuring hitch-free and level playing ground in the use of political campaign and advertising materials in the state.
It urged everyone to comply with the guidelines to ensure sanity and to protect the environment from defilement, visual blight and other adverse effects of uncontrolled deployment and display of political campaign materials within the State before, during and after the poll.
Richard said: “These guidelines are issued without prejudice to any political party, association or candidate as it is the Agency’s intention to ensure fairness among all participants, while judiciously performing its duties and applying the rules without sentiment or bias.
“The following are the guidelines as they apply to all political parties before, during and after the November 11, 2023 gubernatorial elections in Kogi State.
“Political campaign materials on billboards may be deployed on existing structures owned and operated by outdoor advertising practitioners who are duly registered with the Agency and have obtained permits for such sites and structures.
“Each billboard erected must be made of standard and sturdy materials to ensure they do not fall or block the roads or constitute risk to citizenry and commuters.
“Posters must not be pasted on public utility structures such as street lamps, poles, transformers, the Ganaja fly-over and other unauthorized surfaces except as duly authorized by the Agency upon payment of relevant fees.
