The governorship candidate of the African Action Congress, AAC, in Abia State,  Doris Ogala, has lambasted the imposition of N150m charges on guber candidates for the placement of campaign billboards in the state.

In a video sighted on X, Ogala said she does not have a godfather who ‘has stolen government funds’ to pay such an amount of money for billboard display.

DAILY POST recalls that the Abia State Structure for Signage and Advertising Agency, ABSSAA, placed N200 million and N150 million fees on all 2027 presidential candidates and governorship candidates who wish to display their political campaign structures in the State advertisement space.

Reacting, Ogala said, “People are dying in the hospital. Workers are dying. Their salaries have not been paid, and you are imposing 150 million naira for a candidate. Where will I get the money from?

“Do I have a godfather who has stolen government funds? I should pay 150 million naira. I dare anybody to touch my billboard. All of us will campaign without a billboard in this state.”

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The spokesman for Rabiu Musa Kwankwaso, Ladipo Johnson, has disclosed that the presidential candidate of the Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC), Peter Obi, is unhappy over the leadership dispute currently affecting the OK Movement.

Johnson made the revelation during an interview on Arise Television, where he acknowledged the existence of tensions within the movement but maintained that the disagreement would not derail its political objectives ahead of the 2027 general election.

According to him, the crisis is a temporary distraction that should not be allowed to create divisions among supporters of the proposed Obi-Kwankwaso alliance.

“Yes, we have, may I call it a distraction at the moment. It is not such, in my own humble opinion, that would lead you to take unilateral actions that could possibly scuttle or bring bad blood within the support base of the person you purportedly want to become the president of the country,” Johnson said.

He cautioned members of the movement against taking actions capable of undermining efforts to build a formidable political platform, stressing that supporters should instead concentrate on expanding the group’s structure across the country.

Johnson noted that the disagreement stemmed from differences between some members and the leadership of the movement, but expressed confidence that the issues could be resolved.

The Kwankwaso aide further disclosed that Obi had already been briefed on the development and was dissatisfied with the unfolding situation.

“I saw the presidential candidate last night along with the DG. He’s not happy about the whole situation,” he said.

Johnson’s comments come amid reports of internal disagreements within the OK Movement, a platform established to mobilise support for the proposed Obi-Kwankwaso alliance ahead of the 2027 presidential election.

Despite the crisis, he insisted that the disagreement should not be allowed to distract supporters from the broader objective of building a viable political alternative.

The Accord party has warned that the harassment, arrest and detention of government officials and leaders of the political party in Osun State must stop, noting that the state is preparing for an election and not a for war.

The party demanded the immediate release of its detained members and the removal of the Commissioner of Police in the state, Ibrahim Gotan, insisting that the people of the state should be allowed to freely choose their governor.

Accord said that it is peacefully carrying out its grassroots campaign for the August 15, governorship election in Osun State but alleged that the opposition All Progressives Congress in the state in collaboration with the Osun State Police Command and thugs associated with the APC have been unleashing unprecedented assaults on the nation’s democracy to undermine the gubernatorial poll. 

“The danger is very glaring and must be forestalled immediately by all stakeholders in the electoral process to save our hard earned democracy,” a statement signed by Barr Maxwell Mgbudem, its National Chairman, said.

Accord said it had previously addressed the media on the mindless killing of its leaders and supporters, multiple attacks on Imole Campaign Council and party’s offices, destruction of campaign billboards etc, by thugs associated with the APC. 

“These attacks were duly reported to the Police and other security agencies in the state, sadly none of these known hoodlums was arrested let alone prosecuted to serve as a deterrent to others,” it added.

“It was this apparent Police compromise that forced Accord to demand the removal of the Osun State Police Commissioner Ibrahim Gotan as he has become partisan.

“As at today, about 100 Accord leaders, candidates, members and supporters across the state have been arrested and detained by the Police, some of them were moved to Abuja. It is glaring that their arrests are politically motivated, to frustrate, weaken and dampen our party’s campaign efforts in Osun State. 

“As if this is not enough to subdue the party before the election, the Police invaded the residences of six commissioners and the Secretary to the State Government in the most despicable Gestapo-style operations, setting aside decency, dignity, professionalism and democratic ethics.”

Accord said it condemns in strong terms this reprehensible targeted harassment, intimidation, oppression, arrest and detention of top government officials, party leaders and members by the Police in Osun State without charges preferred against them, adding, “It is draconian and unacceptable.

“It is ironic that the same Police operatives who ignored duly reported attacks on the Imole Campaign Council and party offices, killing of its members and supporters and destruction of campaign billboards etc, would storm the homes of top government officials and arrest several party leaders and members of our great party in the state. 

“It is obvious that the Osun State Police operatives are partisan in this election, giving credence to the APC national leaders’ boasting of state capture by deploying federal might.”

Accord called on President Bola Tinubu, National Security Adviser, the Inspector General of Police, civil society organisations, the international community and all lovers of democratic governance to intervene and save the nation’s hard earned constitutional rule from reactionary forces.

The party reiterated its demand for the removal of the state Commissioner of Police before the election to guarantee a level field for all the political parties participating in the election.

It added, “This needless assault on our democracy shall not stand. Accord will not succumb to intimidation by overzealous police operatives and their cohorts. The good people of Osun State are in one accord with Governor Ademola Adeleke and will massively re-elect him on August 15. Imole’s achievements in spite of efforts to destabilise the state by anti-democratic forces speak for themselves. 

“No brute force will break the resolve of the people of Osun from identifying with Accord and its candidate in the upcoming gubernatorial poll.  In the end, the ballot is stronger than the bullet. 

The party urges its members to remain calm and law abiding.