The Lagos State Police Command has asked the Lagos State Signage and Advertisement Agency to desist from removing the campaign posters and billboards of political parties.
The state Commissioner of Police, Cornelius Aderanti, gave the warning on Monday at a press briefing at the command headquarters in Ikeja, Lagos.
Aderanti, who said the police had also held a meeting with LASAA authorities on the matter, added that the electoral act did not permit any agency or people to remove candidates’ campaign posters.
He said, “We note with concern the series of complaints which have been made against LASAA by candidates of various political parties about removal of campaign billboards and posters purportedly by personnel of the agency. The Electoral Act 2010 as amended is clear in Section 100(2), where it said that state apparatus, including the media shall not be employed to the advantage or the disadvantage of any political party or candidate in any elecion.
“The command wishes to advise LASAA to desist from any act that will call to question its purpose. I have also held a meeting with personnel of LASAA to that effect. Various agencies of government are encouraged to be fair in all that concerns their oversight functions to ensure that no political party is shut out of the electoral process.”
The CP added that he had also directed the Area Commanders of Police and the Divisional Police Officers to arrest anyone or group found removing campaign posters of political parties.
“Without prejudice to any political party, I have directed my ACPs and DPOs to arrest anyone who removes billboards or posters of candidates. Anyone caught, no matter how highly placed, will be apprehended by the police. The command enjoins all political parties to go about their campaigns lawfully and peacefully in the state,” he said.
On what was described as the abusive use of police escorts by politicians, the CP said it had noted the complaint and would look into it. Click to signup for FREE news updates, latest information and hottest gists everyday
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