– IBADAN
The media team of Hon. Owoade Babatunde Jelil (OBJ), has raised concern over the alleged removal and replacement of campaign banners bearing the names and images of the All Progressives Congress (APC) candidate and Senator Sarafadeen Alli in Akinyele Constituency II.
In videos and pictures sited by InsideOut Media Hub, the incident allegedly occurred in the constituency where some individuals were reportedly seen removing campaign banners associated with Senator Sarafadeen Alli and Hon. Owoade Babatunde Jelil before replacing them with materials linked to the Allied Peoples Movement (APM).
The OBJ Media Team said photographs and video recordings of the incident were obtained, with the identities of some of the individuals allegedly involved reportedly captured in the process.
Attached is a video link to the removal of the campaign posters as captured https://www.facebook.com/share/r/1CStrUTfPj/?mibextid=wwXIfr
The development, according to the team, has raised concerns about the conduct of political activities in the constituency, particularly as it comes amid previous complaints from some commercial motorcycle riders who reportedly alleged that they had been threatened or warned against displaying campaign materials bearing Hon. OBJ’s name.
Expressing concern over the development, the media team questioned the motive behind the alleged removal of the campaign materials, asking why campaign materials associated with OBJ would allegedly become a subject of intimidation or removal.
The team stressed that political competition should be centred on ideas, policies, character, capacity and the ability of candidates to convince voters, rather than intimidation, harassment or the removal of opponents’ legitimate campaign materials.
It therefore called on relevant authorities and political stakeholders to investigate the reported incident and ensure that all political parties and candidates are given equal opportunity to campaign peacefully and lawfully.
The team also urged security agencies and other relevant institutions to remain neutral and ensure that political activities across Akinyele Constituency II are conducted in an atmosphere free from intimidation, harassment and discrimination.
It further called for equal enforcement of electoral and campaign regulations against all political parties, stressing that any public official found to have abused official authority or used public resources to suppress legitimate political competition should be held accountable.
According to the team, the strength of democracy is not measured solely by the eventual winner of an election, but also by the fairness and openness of the process through which every candidate is allowed to present his or her message to the electorate.
The OBJ Media Team maintained that Hon. Owoade Babatunde Jelil should be judged by voters based on his record, policies, character and vision, rather than through alleged acts of intimidation or the destruction and removal of campaign materials.
The team consequently appealed to all political actors, supporters, government institutions and security agencies to exercise restraint and uphold peace, fairness and the rule of law throughout the electoral process.
It concluded that while campaign banners may be removed, the credibility of a candidate and the choice of the electorate cannot be determined by such actions.
The team urged all stakeholders to allow the people of Akinyele Constituency II to freely assess the candidates and make their choice without intimidation.
Let the candidates campaign. Let the people decide.
