Press Release
In continuation of the sanitization of the Nation’s Capital , Abuja the FCT , Abuja Metropolitan Management Council (AMMC) took a strident campaign against defacing the city with indiscriminate pasting of election posters in public structures ahead of the 2019 general election.
The AMMC Cordinator, Tpl Umar Shuaibu who lead a strong FCTA Team to the National Chairman of APC, Chief JOHN Odigie – Oyegun ,in Abuja sought to sensitize them on the need to desist from pasting posters on public facilities such as walls, bridges among others.
Tpl Shuaibu said that the APC( His Party ),the Party in power must show good example for others to follow. That is why the Honorable Minister ,FCT Mallam Mohammed Musa Bello directed that the Party be visit first to ensure that it leads in this campaign.
He re-iterated the need for Political Parties and Politicians to spare Abuja the unsightful menace of a city littered with campaign posters in unapproved places.
Presenting a copy of “Guidelines on the placement of Outdoor electioneering campaign materials in the FCT to the APC Chairman, Shuaibu disclosed that the penalty for violating the guidelines is 1 million for Organizations and N100,000 for individuals, including payment for removal of the offending posters.
Also, speaking, Department of Advertising and Signage (DOAS),Yusuf Ibrahim Yakassai, under whose office lies the responsibility of tackling the poster issue, reiterated that placement of posters on public buildings, structures is totally illegal and unacceptable.
Urging Politicians and political Parties to use authorized billboards ,media ,flyers and other legally allowed means. Yakassai noted that using billboards would also give them more mileage even as he advised them to abide by the guidelines on contact DOAS for further information.
The guidelines or document signed by the DOAS Director, ends with a note that enforcement of the guidelines is “ devoid of sentiments or prejudices against any political party, group or political aspirant, DOAS is a responsible and non –partisan regulatory body, to provide equity and level playing fields foe all stakeholders ,without compromising its statutory obligations towards ensuring environmental sustainability in the FCT “.
Responding, the APC Chairman ,represented by Director, Administration in the Party Secretariate, Abdullahi .Y, Gashu’a assured AMMC that he will convey the message to the party,s forthcoming National Working Committee (NWC) Meeting for onward sensitization.
AMMC had earlier stormed the office of Labour Party ,Abuja with the same message two weeks back.
Grace Zamani,AMMC spokesperson.
