Benue: Aondoakaa campaign kicks as Ushongo Chairman, traditional rulers allegedly order removal of PDP billboards

By Johnson Arua

The Aondoakaa/Ogbenjuwa Campaign Organisation has raised the alarm over an alleged directive by the Chairman of Ushongo Local Government Area and some traditional rulers for the immediate removal of campaign billboards, posters and flags belonging to the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) governorship candidate in Benue State, Chief Michael Aondoakaa, SAN, ahead of Governor Hyacinth Alia’s scheduled visit to Lobi, Mbaawe Ward.

The organisation described the alleged directive as an abuse of authority and an attempt to intimidate political opponents, warning that it would resist any effort to destroy or tamper with its campaign materials through lawful means.

In a statement signed by the Deputy Director-General of the campaign organisation, Hon. Abraham Waroh, the group said the reported move amounted to an assault on democratic freedom and an attempt to restrict the political activities of opposition parties in the state.

Waroh insisted that neither the governor, a local government chairman nor any traditional ruler had the authority to turn any part of Benue into a restricted area for opposition political parties.

“Ushongo is not a political fiefdom, and no governor, council chairman or traditional ruler has the authority to turn the local government or any other part of the state into a no-go area for opposition parties,” he said.

The campaign organisation warned the Ushongo council chairman and others allegedly behind the directive against removing, destroying or tampering with its campaign materials, describing any such action as political intimidation and a violation of the democratic rights of the PDP and its supporters.

It maintained that Alia’s scheduled visit to Lobi should not be used as a justification to suppress Aondoakaa’s political visibility or deny the opposition party its legitimate right to campaign.

“A governor’s visit is not a declaration of political emergency, and it does not confer on his supporters the authority to erase the presence of other political parties,” Waroh stated.

He further argued that the people of Ushongo were entitled to make their political choices without coercion, threats or the abuse of public office, expressing concern that the alleged directive had emerged from Aondoakaa’s home local government area.

According to him, rather than engage the opposition on governance, policies and the future of Benue State, supporters of the governor were allegedly resorting to confrontation and attempts to suppress dissent.

The organisation also appealed to Governor Alia to caution his supporters and ensure that his visit to Ushongo did not trigger political tension or undermine the fundamental freedoms of opposition members.

It equally urged the traditional rulers concerned to remain politically neutral, stressing that traditional institutions should promote unity and preserve the heritage of their communities rather than become instruments of partisan hostility.

The campaign organisation called on its members and supporters in Ushongo and other parts of the state to remain calm, vigilant and law-abiding, advising them to document any attempt to remove or destroy their campaign materials and report such incidents to the appropriate authorities.

“Our commitment to peace must, however, not be mistaken for weakness, and our restraint must not be interpreted as permission for anyone to trample on our rights,” Waroh warned.

He added that the organisation would not allow its campaign materials to be destroyed or its supporters intimidated into political silence, insisting that it remained committed to defending its democratic rights through lawful means.