PAY #5 MILLION TO USE MARKETS, PARKS SCH PREMISES FOR CAMPAIGN—GOV UMAHI INSISTS

REPORTER: AMECHI ODO

Governor David Umahi of Ebonyi State has signed an Executive Order imposing five million naira levy on any political party that wants to use markets, school fields or motor parks for campaign and rally.

Briefing journalists in Abakaliki, the Commissioner for Information and Orientation in the State, Chief Uchenna Orji explained that the order was one of the outcomes of this week’s State Executive Council meeting.

He noted that the levy was conditionally refundable but was introduced to enforce political parties to take responsibilities of damage to property, security breach and environmental abuse of such public space.

Chief Orji explained that the levy was binding on all political parties, emphasising that the order “requires that an approval must be sought and granted by either the Commissioner for Education or Special Assistant to the Governor on Market Development before political campaign or rally holds in schools and markets.”

He said the Governor also signed another Executive Order banning the use of motorcycle between 7pm and 6am in all parts of the state.

EDITED BY CHUKWUBUIKE MADU