-Disobeys Court Restraining Order

By Dorcas Achi

The Ideato North Local Government Area has issued a 7-day ultimatum to candidates of the Action Peoples Party (APP) to remove all campaign billboards across Ideato, threatening to pull them down over alleged non-payment of signage fees.

Billboards belonging to Hon. Ikenga Imo Ugochinyere, the representative member for Ideato North and South Federal Constituency, as well as APP candidates for Ideato North and Ideato South State Constituencies, were marked with stickers reading “NOT PAID ADVERT” and an instruction to remove them within seven days.

Addressing journalists at the sites, Charles Okafor, Grassroots Development Forum (GDF) Media Director for Hon. Ugochinyere, said the party fulfilled all requirements set by the Imo State Signage and Advertisement Agency (IMSAA) months ago.

According to him, “IMSAA gave us their requirements, which included payment for application forms, site inspection, and site approval. We complied and made all payments into the Treasury Single Account of the Imo State Government as directed. We have receipts to that effect for the APP candidates for House of Representatives, House of Assembly, and the APP Orlu Senatorial candidate.

“It is baffling that the same government is now asking us to remove billboards we have paid for, and accusing us of non-payment despite having valid receipts. There is also a subsisting court order restraining the government from destroying or tampering with our billboards.”

Mr. Okafor further alleged that a similar incident occurred in 2024, when APP billboards were vandalized after payments had been made.  

“IMSAA remains the sole agency responsible for regulating adverts. Is the Local Government no more working with the State Government?. This continued harassment is unacceptable and we will not keep quiet,” he said.

Also speaking, Oguguo Mbadiwe, APP Candidate for Ideato North Constituency, condemned the planned destruction of the billboards in spite of a court order.  

“Is there anybody who is above the law?” he queried.  

“We will not succumb to intimidation. Those behind this are simply being overzealous. The youths are solidly behind me, and we will continue to mount our billboards,” he added.

Mr. Jimeyon Akpan, an indigene of Akwa Ibom State who has resided in Ideato for over three decades with his family, also visited the site and expressed disappointment over the development. 

He noted that in his 30 years of living in Ideato, he has witnessed a marked difference in quality representation since the emergence of Hon. Ikenga Imo Ugochinyere. 

He therefore appealed to the government to refrain from actions that would distract the lawmaker from his commitment to delivering meaningful development to the people.