Enugu 2027: PDP candidate reacts as officials allegedly move against campaign office

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The Enugu State governorship candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, Chief Godfrey Uche Nnaji, has accused the state government of violating his privacy following an alleged raid on his campaign office by officials of the Enugu State Environmental Protection Agency, ENSEPA.

Nnaji alleged that the officials removed campaign posters and other promotional materials displayed around his office, including materials placed on the fence and surrounding areas along Abakaliki Road, Enugu.

He accused the agency of tearing down and taking away campaign materials used to decorate the premises, describing the alleged action as an abuse of authority.

The PDP candidate questioned the decision to remove the materials while a legal challenge to the state’s signage policy is already before the Federal High Court in Abuja.

In a statement, Nnaji said, “My privacy has been invaded by the Enugu State government. My personal campaign office was attacked by the Enugu State Environmental Protection Agency (ENSEPA) and all my posters torn down in contravention of an ongoing court process.”

He disclosed that a Motion on Notice had already been served on the parties involved in the legal dispute, with the matter awaiting hearing when the alleged enforcement action occurred.

Nnaji described the alleged action at his campaign premises as “politically sad and unethical,” insisting that government agencies ought to respect pending judicial proceedings and uphold the rule of law.

He said the development was particularly concerning because the state’s signage regulations are already the subject of a legal challenge at the Federal High Court in Abuja.

“What makes this development particularly disturbing is that the Enugu State Government’s signage policy is currently being challenged before the Federal High Court, Abuja, and a Motion on Notice has already been served on the relevant parties. We are awaiting the hearing and determination of the matter.

“Against this background, I find it deeply troubling that enforcement action was allegedly undertaken while the judicial process is ongoing,” Nnaji said.

The Enugu State Government had recently introduced legislation imposing a N150 million fine on political parties that display signage or posters without complying with the state’s prescribed regulations ahead of the 2027 general elections.

The signage policy has drawn criticism from opposition figures, while its legality is currently being contested in court.

Critics have also raised questions over the N150 million penalty, arguing that it could potentially conflict with the campaign expenditure limit for governorship candidates under the Electoral Act 2026.

“If the Electoral Act limits total spend of a governorship candidate to N1 billion, then any state government that imposes such a fee for permit to post posters and erect signage, is either being unrealistic or is demonstrating that it does not want the opposition to campaign,” the statement said.

Nnaji also questioned the timing of the alleged enforcement operation, asking, “Why the haste? Why destroy first when the court is already seized of the matter?”

He maintained that respect for the rule of law requires government authorities to exercise caution whenever a disputed policy or action is already before a competent court.

“The proper course is to allow the judiciary to determine the legality of the disputed policy rather than resorting to actions that might appear to prejudge the matter,” he said.

Nnaji acknowledged that the Enugu State Structures for Signage and Advertisement Agency, ENSSAA, had previously reaffirmed its ban on the display and pasting of posters across the state, citing the Enugu State Structures for Signage and Advertisement Agency Law No. 12 of 2016.

However, he argued that the existence of government regulations does not exempt public authorities

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