Hanny Henry
The Adamawa State Government has said the recent conviction and N3 million fine imposed on an African Democratic Congress (ADC) governorship aspirant mark the beginning of stricter enforcement of laws protecting public infrastructure from vandalism and illegal campaign activities.
Speaking at a news conference in Yola, the Chief Press Secretary to Governor Ahmadu Umaru Fintiri, Mr. Humwashi Wonosikou, said the court’s decision reaffirmed the government’s authority to safeguard public assets and should serve as a warning to political parties and their supporters ahead of the 2027 general elections.
Wonosikou explained that the prosecution of the ADC governorship aspirant, Mr. Omar Suleiman, was not politically motivated but aimed at enforcing existing laws regulating the placement of campaign posters and other political materials.
He said the law prohibits the indiscriminate pasting of posters on flyovers, bridges, public buildings, streetlights, road medians and other government-owned facilities, stressing that such infrastructure is funded with taxpayers’ money and must be protected.
According to him, the law has always been in force and applies equally to every citizen, regardless of political affiliation. He noted that the court’s judgment has now removed any doubts about its enforceability, making it clear that no individual or political party would receive preferential treatment.
The governor’s spokesperson said the Fintiri administration remains committed to preserving the state’s investments in urban renewal through discipline, civic responsibility and strict adherence to the rule of law.
He urged political parties and their supporters to conduct campaigns responsibly by using approved billboards, designated advertising spaces, newspapers, radio, television, digital media and other lawful channels for political communication.
Wonosikou also directed relevant government agencies to strengthen surveillance across the state and ensure full compliance with the law, warning that anyone found defacing public property would be arrested and prosecuted.
He reaffirmed the government’s commitment to protecting public assets and enforcing the law fairly, firmly and without exception.
