LEVY ON USE OF PUBLIC SPACE FOR CAMPAIGN ANTI DEMOCRACY — ANALYST TELLS UMAHI

REPORTER: CHINELO OKORO

A public affaires analyst in Abakaliki, Dr. Boniface Nwofia, has called on Ebonyi State Government to reconsider its imposition of five million naira on any political party that wants to use markets, school fields or motor parks for campaigns and rallies.

Dr. Nwofia made the call in an interview with Radio Nigeria on the need to sustain democracy in the state.

According to Dr. Nwofia, the decision may hamper opposition parties from campaigning, thereby not giving opportunity to every candidate canvass for votes, which he said would prevent the people from making good choice of leadership in the 2023 general election.

Dr. Nwofia, who explained that such levy had never been so in the state, however suggested that a directive should rather be given to the candidates to keep the environment clean after use.

Governor David Umahi recently signed an executive order imposing a five million naira levy on any political party that wants to use markets, motor parks and school fields in Ebonyi State for campaigns and rallies.

The Governor’s Executive Order has been widely condemned by opposition political parties, who tag the Governor’s order as witch-hunt of other parties.

EDITED BY CHUKWUBUIKE MADU