A fresh political controversy has erupted in Kwara State over the removal of campaign billboards belonging to the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) governorship candidate, Engr. Suleiman Bolakale Kawu. The state government has insisted that the exercise is part of an ongoing enforcement of signage regulations.

The PDP, however, has accused the administration of Governor AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq of using government agencies to suppress the opposition and remove its campaign materials from strategic locations across Ilorin.

The latest dispute followed the removal of Kawu's billboards at Agaka and Adabata Junction in Ilorin. The situation comes days after the Kwara State Signage and Advertisement Agency (KWASAA) removed his campaign billboard at the Geri Alimi Underpass.

But KWASAA General Manager, Toba Adeyeye, said the agency's action was not targeted at any political party or candidate.

He stressed that its mandate was to enforce the state's signage regulations and protect public infrastructure.

Adeyeye spoke on Wednesday during an enforcement exercise in Ilorin.

He said the agency had received several complaints over indiscriminate erection of billboards and other forms of illegal advertising.

He said enforcement officials responding to one of the complaints discovered that a newly constructed road around Adeta Junction had allegedly been dug up to create space for a billboard.

According to him, the government would identify those responsible and ensure that they bear the cost of restoring the damaged road, in addition to facing possible prosecution.

"The road belongs to the people of Kwara. It is a road that they use taxpayers' money to fix. How can you possibly just dig the road and say you want to destroy this road?" Adeyeye said.

He also disclosed that another billboard had been removed from government owned water infrastructure after the required approval was not obtained.

Adeyeye said individuals or organisations seeking to use government infrastructure for advertising or political campaigns must first obtain approval from the appropriate agency.

He explained that KWASAA works with the Ministry of Water Resources in regulating the use of such facilities, warning that unauthorised access to government infrastructure could attract consequences beyond the removal of the billboard.

KWASAA rejected the allegation of selective enforcement.

Adeyeye said the agency had previously removed illegal campaign materials belonging to members of the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) during the party's primary election.

"We are not really partisan, but we will do our job, no matter the party involved, no matter the candidate involved. The most important thing for us at KWASSA is Kwara," he said.

He said the state government had also undertaken sensitisation programmes, including radio engagements and a stakeholders' meeting with political parties and candidates, to educate political actors on the rules governing campaigns and advertisements.

The KWASAA boss said the agency had conducted an audit of billboard violations across the metropolis, but stressed that enforcement would remain continuous as fresh infractions were being recorded.

He urged political parties and candidates to comply with the law, saying political campaigns were temporary while public infrastructure would remain in use by residents.

"Campaign will come and go, but our state will remain. So let everything be done in decency and in order," he said.

Reacting to the removals on Wednesday, the PDP candidate said the government should engage political opponents through ideas, programmes and performance rather than actions aimed at restricting their visibility.

"My name may be removed from a billboard, but my commitment to Kwara cannot be removed, nor can my aspiration to serve or the people's right to choose their leaders," Kawu said.

The PDP subsequently intensified its criticism, alleging that agents of the state government were systematically removing the candidate's billboards across Ilorin.

In a statement signed by the party's State Publicity Secretary, Olusegun Olusola Adewara, the PDP alleged that the removal of the Agaka billboard was connected to the Governor's forthcoming turbanning ceremony over visibility to invitees.

The PDP said the action would not affect the political choices of residents.

It argued that removing campaign materials could not eliminate the party's presence or support among voters.

It called on AbdulRazaq to halt the alleged political intimidation and allow opposition parties to conduct legitimate political activities.