Uche Nnaji, PDP guber candidate in Enugu accuses State government of invasion of privacy, says campaign office, violated 

Uche Nnaji, PDP guber candidate in Enugu accuses State government of invasion of privacy, says campaign office, violated 

The Enugu State governorship candidate of the peoples democratic Party (PDP). Chief Godfrey Uche Nnaji, has accused the Enugu State Government of violation of privacy, after his campaign office was breached and all the campaign livery used to decorate the office, fence and surrounding areas, torn down and carted away.

Nnaji said the action of the government amounted to lawlessness, and wondered why the government was in a haste to tear down the liveries decorating his office when there is a case challenging the Enugu State controversial signage policy pending in court.

In a press statement, Nnaji cried out that, “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. 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 was being challenged at the Federal High Court, Abuja since about two months now.”

He described as “politically sad and unethical,” the violation of his campaign premises with disregard to pending court processes, adding that such reprehensible level of political intolerance and disregard of the judicial system should have no place in a society guided by Laws.

“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.

“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 lamented.

The Enugu State Government recently passed a Law prescribing a fine of N150million for any political party which would erect a signage or poster, as campaigns for the 2027 general elections commences.

The Law, which has been interpreted by many observers as targeting opposition political parties is being challenged in Court already, nd many had expected the State Government to await the outcome of the pending case before taking action on chief Nnaji’s campaign office.

Critics of the Enugu Law, and those who have challenged it in court argued that it was impossible to impose a N150million fine on a single board/poster by the parties when the Electoral Act 2026 set total campaign ceilings for gubernatorial contests at just N1bilion.

“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 read.

“Why the haste? Why destroy first when the court is already seized of the matter,” Nnaji wondered?

The rule of law, he argued requires patience, restraint and respect for due process, and added that “where a policy or governmental action is 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.”

Nnaji said although he was aware that ENSSAA had publicly reiterated its ban on the display and pasting of posters across Enugu State, citing the Enugu State Structures for Signage and Advertisement Agency Law No. 12 of 2016, but he emphsised that the existence of a government regulation does not remove the obligation of every public authority to respect due process, lawful court proceedings and the fundamental rights of citizens.

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.