31/08/2026
DESTROYING APGA BANNERS IN AMUWO ODOFIN IS NOT A CAMPAIGN STRATEGY IN MODERN DEMOCRACY
Dear Prince Lanre Sanusi (PLS),
Executive Chairman, Amuwo-Odofin Local Government,
Leadership is not merely about occupying an office; it is about setting an example for the people.
As the elected Executive Chairman of Amuwo-Odofin Local Government, you occupy a position that demands fairness, restraint, tolerance and respect for democratic competition, regardless of political affiliation.
It is against this background that I find it necessary to publicly express concern over the alleged destruction and removal of banners belonging to our party, APGA, and our candidate for the House of Representatives, Hon. ThankGod Ibeh (TKC).
Mr. Chairman, destroying political banners is not a campaign strategy.
In a democracy, political parties and candidates are expected to compete through ideas, programmes, persuasion and the confidence of the electorate not intimidation, obstruction or destruction of campaign materials.
“Democracy is based upon the conviction that there are extraordinary possibilities in ordinary people.”~ Harry Emerson Fosdick
The people of Amuwo-Odofin deserve an election environment where every legitimate candidate has the opportunity to communicate with the electorate.
THE QUESTION IS SIMPLE: WHY APGA?
One would have expected every political party contesting the 2027 House of Representatives election in Amuwo-Odofin Federal Constituency to be treated within the same democratic framework.
Instead, we have witnessed what appears to us as a pattern of restrictions against the visibility of our party candidate.
First, our supporters were arrested by the Divisional Police Officer in Festac through the directive of Mr Chairman in connection with the hanging of banners belonging to our candidate.
You also used LASAA Amuwo Odofin to deter our party candidate from hanging out banners.
Yet, interestingly, locations from which our candidate was allegedly prevented from displaying campaign materials have subsequently been occupied by campaign materials associated with another candidate which is your preferred candidate of the APC Moses Olarenwaju (MO)
That raises legitimate questions.
Is the issue genuinely about environmental regulation and approved advertising spaces?
Or is there a selective application of the rules?
If there are established regulations governing political advertisements, let those regulations apply equally to every political party and every candidate.
That is fairness.
That is justice.
That is democracy.
AND THEN CAME FHA FOOTBALL FIELD
Just yesterday the 30th August 2026, at the FHA Football Field, 23 Road, Festac Town, Amuwo-Odofin, our party's candidate Hon. ThankGod Ibeh banners displayed inside and around the playground were reportedly destroyed.
The allegation that you personally participated in the destruction of those banners is a serious matter that deserves clarification.
If the banners were improperly placed, there are lawful and administrative channels available for addressing such an issue moreover this is election season and banners are flying
But personally destroying the campaign materials of a political opponent?
That is not the standard of leadership we should be encouraging in a modern democratic society.
“The ballot is stronger than the bullet.”~ Abraham Lincoln
Political power is temporary.
Public office is temporary.
Political parties rise and fall.
But the precedents we create today can remain with our communities for generations.
Mr. Chairman, APGA is not the only Party in this race
The 2027 House of Representatives election is a contest involving political parties and candidates.
APGA is participating.
Other political parties are participating.
The electorate not the local government chairman will ultimately decide who represents Amuwo-Odofin Federal Constituency.
Therefore, there should be no need to fear the visibility of another candidate.
If Hon. ThankGod Ibeh's message resonates with the people, let the people decide.
If another candidate has a stronger message, let that candidate convince the people.
If APC has a better programme, let APC sell that programme.
If APGA has a better agenda, let APGA sell its agenda.
Let the marketplace of ideas determine the winner.
That is democracy.
Let me make this abundantly clear:
Banners do not win Elections
*• Destroying APGA banners will not destroy the aspirations of the people who support APGA.*
*•Removing a banner does not remove a candidate from the ballot.*
*•Pulling down a poster does not pull down an idea.*
*•Destroying campaign materials does not destroy the determination of supporters.*
“Ideas are more powerful than guns.” ~ Nelson Mandela
We are therefore not perturbed.
Our campaign is bigger than banners.
Our message is bigger than posters.
Our movement (TKC Movement) is bigger than campaign materials.
We shall continue to engage the people peacefully.
We shall continue to educate voters.
We shall continue to present our candidate's agenda.
We shall continue to mobilise lawfully.
And above all, we shall respect the democratic process.
Leadership must rise above Partisanship
Mr. Chairman, your exposure and experience before becoming Executive Chairman should ordinarily position you to appreciate the importance of political tolerance.
As Mayor of a diverse community like Amuwo-Odofin, your office belongs to every resident, irrespective of party affiliation.
APGA Members are residents.
APC Members are residents.
PDP Members are residents.
LP Members are residents.
NDC Members are residents.
ADC Members are residents.
YPP Members are residents.
And supporters of every other lawful political platform are residents.
*The chairman of a local government should therefore be a referee for all, not an apparent participant in actions that could be perceived as favouring one political interest over another.*
“The true test of democracy is not what happens when things are easy, but how we behave when we disagree.”
We may disagree politically.
We may support different candidates.
We may belong to different parties.
*But we must never allow political competition to become political hostility like your are currently displaying as a Mayor of our Community*
We therefore respectfully call on INEC, the Department of State Services (DSS), the Nigeria Police Force and other relevant election-monitoring and supporting agencies to pay close attention to the emerging political environment in Amuwo-Odofin ahead of the 2027 elections.
We are not calling for confrontation.
We are not calling for retaliation.
We are not calling for violence.
We are calling for vigilance, neutrality and equal application of the law.
Every candidate should be allowed a level playing field.
Every political party should be allowed to campaign within the law.
Every supporter should be able to participate in political activities peacefully and without intimidation.
And every resident should be able to make an informed electoral choice without fear or coercion.
Mr. Chairman, you have the opportunity to change the narrative.
You have the opportunity to demonstrate that Amuwo-Odofin can be a model of democratic tolerance.
You have the opportunity to show that political differences do not have to become personal differences.
You have the opportunity to prove that leadership is about protecting the rights of those who agree with you and those who disagree with you.
So, respectfully, let the banners stand where they are to stand.
Let the candidates speak.
Let the parties campaign.
Let the people listen.
Let the electorate decide.
Do not fight banners.
Compete with ideas.
Do not silence opponents.
Convince the people.
Do not fear political competition.
Embrace democratic competition.
Because ultimately, the people not banners will decide who represents Amuwo-Odofin Federal Constituency.
And when the votes are counted, history will remember not only who won, but how we conducted ourselves while seeking to win.
Let us build an electoral environment where political competition is fierce but peaceful; where disagreement is respected; where every legitimate candidate has a voice; and where the people's mandate remains supreme.
May Amuwo Odofin Federal Constituency Constituency Succeed!
Comrade Ololade Johnson
(Nwanne Di N'Mba)
State Secretary, APGA LAGOS State
31st August 2026
