Enugu, September 27, 2026 – Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) governorship candidate Chief Uche Geoffrey Nnaji has accused the Enugu State Government of “lawlessness” and invading his privacy after state officials allegedly entered his campaign office on Abakaliki Road and removed political posters and other campaign materials.
Nnaji said agents of the Enugu State Environmental Protection Agency tore down campaign liveries from the office, fence and surrounding areas during the operation, despite an ongoing legal challenge to the state’s political signage rules at the Federal High Court in Abuja.
In a statement, the former Minister of Innovation, Science and Technology described the incident as a troubling escalation of the dispute over political advertising in the state.
“My privacy has been invaded by the Enugu State Government. My personal campaign office was attacked by the Enugu State Environmental Protection Agency and all my posters torn down in contravention of an ongoing court process,” Nnaji said.
“A Motion on Notice was served on them and we are waiting for the hearing of the matter when they embarked on their ‘Destroy Enugu First Campaign’. The signage policy of Enugu State Government has been challenged at the Federal High Court, Abuja, since about two months now.”
He called the alleged entry into his premises “politically sad and unethical,” insisting that political differences should not override respect for private property, judicial proceedings and the rule of law.
“I wish to express my deep concern and condemnation over what I consider to be an unwarranted invasion of my privacy and an unacceptable attack on my personal campaign office at Abakaliki Road in Enugu State,” he added. “Against this background, I find it deeply troubling that enforcement action was allegedly undertaken while the judicial process is ongoing.”
The development comes amid rising controversy over the regulation of political advertising ahead of the 2027 general election. The Enugu State Structures for Signage and Advertisement Agency (ENSSAA) earlier announced a mandatory ₦150 million advertising permit for political parties and candidates seeking to deploy campaign materials across the state’s 17 local government areas. The permit covers billboards, banners, branded vehicles, handbills, T-shirts, caps, buntings and street campaigns.
ENSSAA General Manager Francis Aninwike has defended the policy as a regulatory measure to maintain advertising standards, prevent indiscriminate placement of materials and protect public infrastructure. The agency maintains that the rules apply to all political actors regardless of party affiliation and are grounded in the Enugu State Structures for Signage and Advertisement Agency Law No. 12 of 2016. It has also reiterated restrictions on posting political materials on buildings, walls, fences, bridges, electricity poles, roads and other public facilities.
Opposition figures have argued that the high permit fee and enforcement approach could restrict their ability to campaign. Nnaji questioned the timing of the action, asking: “Why the haste? Why destroy first when the court is already seized of the matter? The rule of law requires patience, restraint and respect for due process.”
Nnaji is seeking the governorship on the PDP platform as the party works to regain ground in a state it controlled for more than two decades before Governor Peter Mbah switched to the All Progressives Congress. Political tensions in Enugu have already risen this month, with the state Commissioner of Police ordering investigations into reported disruptions of opposition gatherings.
For Nnaji, the core issue goes beyond the cost of permits or outdoor advertising rules. He maintains that the alleged entry into a private campaign office and removal of materials while the underlying policy remains under judicial review undermines due process and citizens’ rights.
