Adamawa State Governor, Ahmadu Fintiri, has warned politicians against pasting campaign posters on flyovers, public buildings and other government infrastructure, saying anyone who violates the law will face sanctions.
The warning came hours after Adamawa State Magistrate Court No. 2 fined the governorship candidate of the African Democratic Congress, Suleiman Umar, ₦3 million for placing campaign posters on public buildings.
Speaking at a press conference on Thursday night, the Chief Press Secretary to the Governor, Humwashi Wonosikou, said the state government’s position was neither new nor selective.
He said the law prohibiting the defacement of public property had always existed and applied to everyone, regardless of political party, office or social status.
According to him, the government had watched with concern the indiscriminate pasting of campaign posters and political materials on flyovers, bridges, public buildings, streetlights, road medians and other public infrastructure.
“For some time now, the government has watched with concern the indiscriminate pasting of campaign posters and political materials on flyovers, bridges, public buildings, streetlights, road medians and other public infrastructure,” Wonosikou said.
“These facilities were built with public funds to improve the quality of life of our people. They are not campaign boards for political organisations or individual aspirants.”
He said the conviction and ₦3 million fine imposed on a political candidate had shown that the law was enforceable and that the government had the legal authority and resolve to protect public assets.
“Those who imagined that government would look away have now been confronted by the verdict of the law,” he said.
“In a landmark case, a political candidate who violated this provision was prosecuted, found liable by a competent court, and ordered to pay a fine of ₦3 million. That judgment has settled the matter beyond public debate. It has demonstrated that the law is enforceable and that the government possesses both the legal authority and the resolve to protect public property.”
Wonosikou said the government’s action was not about politics but about responsibility and the protection of infrastructure built with public funds.
According to him, no responsible government would spend billions of naira on urban renewal, flyovers, road corridors and public infrastructure only to allow the facilities to be defaced by political posters.
“No responsible government can spend billions of naira beautifying cities, constructing modern flyovers, improving road corridors and restoring public infrastructure, only to watch those same facilities become canvases for indiscriminate poster campaigns,” he said.
“Urban renewal is not measured solely by the construction of roads and bridges. It is sustained by discipline, civic responsibility and respect for public assets.”
He said every poster illegally pasted on government infrastructure diminishes the collective investment of the people of Adamawa State.
Wonosikou insisted that the law would be enforced without fear or favour, adding that members of the ruling party and opposition parties would be treated equally.
“The law will be enforced without fear or favour. Members of the ruling party and the opposition stand on equal footing before the law,” he said.
He added that no individual would receive preferential treatment because of political affiliation, influence or office.
The governor’s spokesperson said political participation remains a constitutional right, but vandalising or defacing public infrastructure is not.
“Political participation is a constitutional right. Vandalising public infrastructure is not,” he said.
He urged political actors to use lawful and approved channels for campaigns, including billboards, flex banners, designated advertising spaces, newspapers, radio, television, digital media, town hall meetings and other legitimate platforms.
The warning comes amid growing concerns over political posters being placed on public facilities in Yola and other parts of the state.
However, reports said posters of candidates of the ruling All Progressives Congress were also seen prominently displayed on flyovers and other public buildings in the state capital.
