SDP candidate faults Fintiri over campaign billboard restrictions

The presidential candidate of the Social Democratic Party, Adewole Adebayo, has criticized the Adamawa State Government's restrictions on political campaign posters and billboards. Adebayo warned that such actions could undermine democratic competition and is likening them to signs of dictatorship. He made these remarks during the inauguration of the SDP's 12,000-member Presidential Campaign Council.

Adebayo questioned why the Adamawa State Government targeted parties other than the All Progressives Congress for removing campaign materials, suggesting the move was aimed at appeasing President Bola Tinubu. This comes after a July controversy where the state's Governor Ahmadu Fintiri had warned politicians against placing campaign posters illegally on public buildings, with some offenders facing fines.

Adebayo urged the media to not take lightly any action that restricts political parties' ability to communicate their programmes to voters, emphasizing that the battle for Nigeria is in the communities, not just the party's national secretariat. The SDP National Chairman, Prof. Sadiq Gombe, also addressed the campaign council, urging members to focus on issue-based, people-centred campaigns guided by the Constitution, Electoral Act, INEC Guidelines, and the party's constitution as they prepare for the January 16, 2027 presidential election.