The Lagos State chapter of the All Progressives Congress has accused the state Commissioner of Police, Mr. Cornelius Aderanti, of allowing the Peoples Democratic Party an unfair advantage ahead of the February elections in the state.
A statement signed by the publicity secretary of the party in the state, Mr. Joe Igbokwe said Aderanti’s order stopping the Lagos State Signage and Advertisement Agency from removing illegal posters gave the PDP the boldness to remove all APC posters and banners across the state and pasting its own posters instead.
The party described the development as “dangerous display of political rascality and crass illegality that will not be allowed to endure in Lagos”, questioning the where the police boss got the authority to order an agency established by law not to carry out its duties.
The party said: “Following this tacit support from the CP, the PDP members and agents commenced removing the posters and campaign bills of the APC in the entire Lagos Island.
“They have gone further to paste their posters on top of APC posters in flagrant disregard of the feeling of Lagosians and the CP has remained conspiratorially silent. We recall that recently, a PDP leader, Bode George, visited someone in Adelabu Street, Surulere, and his supporters welcomed him by removing all APC posters and placing PDP posters in their stead.
“We ask, is this the real intention of the Lagos CP in issuing the clearly partisan threat of arresting LASAA workers for doing their lawful duties?
“We ask the CP to refrain from giving tacit support to the PDP and shielding them from sanctions for illegal acts.”
The Police command however reacted through the command’s Police Public Relations Officer, Kenneth Nwosu, who said the CP’s directive was not intended to give any party the upper hand but to ensure a level playing field for all parties.
“When we gave the directive, we issued a statement and it was clear. We said no person should tear down another person’s poster. If anyone has complaints, they can write to the police and we will take the matter up,” he said.
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