The African Democratic Congress (ADC) has called on the All Progressives Congress (APC) to remove all campaign materials and billboards endorsing President Bola Tinubu for a second term, describing them as illegal and insensitive.

This comes after the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) reminded political parties and aspirants that it is unlawful to engage in public campaigning before the official campaign window, as outlined in the Electoral Act.

In a statement issued on Wednesday, Bolaji Abdullahi, interim publicity secretary of the ADC, accused the APC of ignoring Nigeria’s worsening economic and security situation while focusing on early re-election campaigns for the president.

“For months now, organs of the APC have staged rallies and unveiled billboards endorsing President Tinubu for a second term from Abuja to Port Harcourt, Minna, Kano, and Akure,” the ADC said.

“These stage-managed endorsements blatantly ignore INEC’s reminder that public campaigning is unlawful until 150 days before the election.!

“While the APC chants four more years, food prices have soared, transport has become unaffordable, and many households can no longer pay rent.

“Headline inflation, which stood at 22 percent in 2023, hit a 30-year high of almost 35 percent in December, and remains above 22 percent today.

“The naira has plunged from N461 to over N1,500 against the dollar, crushing savings and suffocating small businesses.

“Petrol, which sold for N185 per litre before subsidy removal, now costs over N1,000 turning basic mobility into a daily nightmare.”

Speaking on the state of insecurity in the country, the party said while Nigerians are being abducted almost daily, the Tinubu-led government appears more concerned with politics, erecting campaign materials than public safety

“Between April and June, over 3,100 killings were recorded nationwide. These included 1,865 civilians and 122 security personnel.

“Only last Friday, more than 50 people were kidnapped in Sabon Gari Dirmi, Zamfara yet instead of action, our streets are lined with campaign posters.

“In 2023, the national grid collapsed 12 times and has failed multiple times this year. Despite promises, Nigeria still lives in darkness.

“Corruption remains rampant, and the country’s ranking in press freedom has dropped by 10 places within a year. Journalists are under growing pressure.”

Abdullahi further criticised the ruling party for focusing on propaganda instead of policy and problem-solving.

“Nigerians are hungry, sick, and terrified. Yet the government is more concerned with controlling narratives than fixing reality,” he said.

“The ADC therefore demands that the APC dismantle its unlawful campaign machinery, respect the law it swore to uphold, and focus on rescuing Nigerians from grinding inflation, a battered naira, rampant insecurity, and collapsing public services.

“Until the lawful campaign window opens, every political billboard is a billboard of illegality and should be removed as they are campaign materials.” (TRIBUNE)