Key Takeaways
- The Benue State Government has issued a two-week ultimatum for the regularisation of 'unauthorised' billboards, threatening removal by October 20, 2026.
- The opposition Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) vehemently condemns the directive, calling it a 'desperate, anti-democratic and politically motivated attempt' to cripple their campaigns ahead of the 2027 governorship election.
- The government insists the exercise is to enforce signage laws, generate revenue, and ensure public safety, offering a grace period for compliance.
- The PDP questions the timing, alleging the move targets opposition messages and restricts democratic space.
- Both sides remain firm, with the government warning of no extensions and the PDP calling for monitoring by civil society and media.
Makurdi, Benue State – A brewing political storm has engulfed Benue State as the government's recent directive to remove 'unauthorised' billboards has ignited a fierce disagreement with the opposition Peoples Democratic Party (PDP). The PDP alleges that the move is a politically motivated strategy designed to stifle opposition voices and cripple their campaigns ahead of the crucial 2027 governorship election.
Government's Stance: Upholding Law and Order
The Benue State Government, through its relevant agencies – the Benue State Signage and Advertisement Agency, the Benue State Internal Revenue Service (BIRS), and the Urban Development Board – announced a two-week ultimatum for owners and operators of billboards to regularise their structures. This directive, issued on Tuesday, October 6, 2026, mandates that all billboards without proper permits, clearance, and paid fees must comply by October 20, 2026, or face removal.
Chief Solomon Iorpev, the Commissioner for Information and Orientation, stated that the enforcement aims to address the 'arbitrary erection of billboards' across the state. He emphasized that these structures often lack necessary permits, clearances from the Urban Development Board, and payment of prescribed fees, thereby breaching existing laws. "This practice breaches the law. It deprives the State of legitimate revenue, endangers public safety, and undermines the orderly development of our towns and cities," Iorpev explained.
The government maintains that the grace period is a sign of goodwill, allowing individuals, groups, and political parties to 'retrace their steps and do the right thing' before enforcement commences. Iorpev warned that there would be no extension to the deadline, and removed billboards would be at the owners' cost, with no further notice given. He stressed that the law would be applied without sympathy or exception, regardless of status or political affiliation.
Opposition's Outcry: A 'Politically Motivated' Attack
However, the PDP has vehemently rejected the government's explanation, describing the directive as a 'desperate, anti-democratic and politically motivated attempt to cripple opposition campaigns ahead of the 2027 governorship election.' Bright Antyo, the State Publicity Secretary for the PDP, expressed alarm at the timing of the directive, especially as opposition billboards carrying 'messages of hope, security, economic revival and political change' have recently appeared across the state.
The PDP alleges that Governor Hyacinth Alia's administration is attempting to intimidate political opponents and monopolize public spaces rather than address critical issues facing residents. "The sudden two-week ultimatum issued by the government is not a coincidence. It bears all the markings of a calculated operation aimed at clearing public spaces of opposition campaign materials and restricting the visibility of alternative political voices as the 2027 election approaches," Antyo stated.
The Heart of the Dispute: Timing and Intent
The core of the PDP's argument revolves around the timing of the enforcement. They question why the administration waited until opposition campaigns gained traction to rigorously enforce signage laws. "If the Alia administration was genuinely interested in enforcing signage laws, why did it wait until now? Why were these regulations not vigorously enforced before opposition campaigns began gaining traction?\