The Chairman of Bida Local Government Area of Niger State, Rt. Hon. Usman Mohammed Manko, has reportedly directed the removal of billboards belonging to opposition political figures in parts of Bida, prompting affected campaign teams to seek clarification on the basis for the directive.
The development was reported by SaharaReporters on Wednesday, September 16, 2026, which said a notice reading “Please remove: By Bida Local Government” had been placed on a billboard belonging to Muhammed Rabiu Sadiq, a senatorial candidate of the Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC).
A similar notice was reportedly issued against a billboard belonging to Hon. Muhammad Abubakar Abacon, the African Democratic Congress (ADC) candidate for the Bida–Gbako–Katcha Federal Constituency in the 2027 elections.
According to a statement issued by Abacon's media team on September 13, 2026, the billboard, located around St. John, ESO, Bida, had received a directive for removal allegedly from the local government chairman.
The team said it was seeking clarification rather than confrontation, asking whether the location had been deemed unsuitable, whether there were issues relating to approval or permission, or whether the billboard was considered to have violated an existing regulation or by-law.
The campaign team also called for any rules governing political billboards to be applied consistently to all political actors.
It said clarity was particularly important because the directive affects political communication ahead of the 2027 general elections.
However, the specific reason for the removal directive had not been established in the report, and it was also unclear whether the directive applied to billboards belonging to all political parties or specifically to the affected opposition candidates.
The development comes as political activities increase ahead of the 2027 elections, with campaign-related publicity and outdoor advertising becoming more visible in parts of the country.
Tags
Politics