Posters, billboards set Kaduna APC, PDP at loggerheads

The build-up to the crisis of posters in Kaduna State began in Zaria. Two members of the APC were taken to court in the ancient city over the allegation of destroying the state governor, Muktar Ramalan Yero’s posters. They were condemned to the Zaria prison by a Chief Magistrate’s Court sitting at the Tudun Wada area of the Zaria metropolis.
Some prominent members of the PDP in Zaria had reported Hamisu Abdullahi of the Albakarwa area of the city and Tukur Lawal, a resident of Rimin Kanbari to the Zaria city police division. The police, according to our findings, did not waste time to arraign the two suspected “political thugs” to the Magistrate’s Court.
The court, operating under Justice Kesiah Antho, subsequently found the duo guilty of destroying posters belonging to the PDP and Governor Yero.
Representing the commissioner of police, Kaduna State command, Sergeant Sarki Abdullahi from the Zaria headquarters, told the court that the suspects were arrested by members of a vigilante group, and were subsequently handed over to the Zaria city police division.
The Divisional Police Officer (DPO), according to information obtained by Sunday Trust, transferred the case to Zaria police headquarters because of what the he called “political nature of the case.”
Despite denying the charges, Magistrate Antho remanded both men on Wednesday, October 15, 2014, having found them guilty of the offence.
That judgement elicited mixed feelings among the residents of Zaria and its environs. Many observers were of the view that the case got accelerated hearing because the ruling PDP had interest in it.
In a counter accusation, the APC alleged that some members of the PDP had destroyed their posters but the police refused to take action despite several complaints.
In a letter to the police area commander in charge of Zaria headquarters, signed by APC’s state vice chairman (North), Alhaji Abubakar Rilwanu, and made available to Sunday Trust, the party said it became necessary for them to write the police as the posters of their members were not only destroyed across the state, but the lives of some of their members were under serious threat.
The letter reads in part, “We are compelled to report the destruction of our posters to you by the PDP followers. This has become necessary after lodging complaints to the Zaria city police division without result. Posters of our aspirants pasted on the walls of Alhaji Muntari Umar KC’s residence, situated at No. 18, Unguwar Sirdi, Zaria city, were destroyed by one Sani Zindar and his friends.
“When Muntari Umar complained, the said Sani Zindir threatened to kill him if he dared to replace the posters. In view of this, the issue was immediately reported to the Zaria city police division, but from the look of things, the division was not willing to take any action. Earlier, two of our followers, Hamisu Abdullahi of Albarkawa and Mahmud Tukur Lawal of Rimin Kambari, were arrested and prosecuted for placing posters of APC aspirants on top of PDP posters.”
The APC further said that if their members could be taken to prison for an offence, it therefore behooves on the law enforcement agencies to do same to every other citizen that committed similar offence irrespective of party allegiance.
“We wonder if the law is only designed to punish APC followers because they are not in government in Kaduna State,” Alhaji Rilwanu added.
According to the APC, it was not only in Zaria and its environs that its posters are destroyed, similar action is extended to Kaduna metropolis.
“Not long ago, Isa Ashiru’s billboards on Sokoto Road, Kaduna, were removed on the directive of the PDP.  If Governor Ramalan Yero’s posters are everywhere, what stops our aspirants from placing theirs? If no action is taken, we are afraid we cannot control the retaliatory action of the youth,” Alhaji Rilwanu said.
Attempts to get a detailed response of the leadership of the PDP in Kaduna State over the allegations by the APC did not yield a meaningful result. However, its secretary in Kaduna State, Alhaji Kabiru Balla, said he was not aware of the allegations. He, however, promised to investigate the matter.
When our correspondent went round the ancient city of Zaria, it was discovered that posters of politicians from both the APC and PDP were all over the city, including Governor Muktar Yero, Malam Nasir el-Rufa’i, Suleiman Hunkuyi, Suleiman Abdu Kwari, among others.
For instance, at the popular Agoro roundabout in Zaria, posters and billboards of the governor were strategically placed. Observers believe that the posters and billboards of the governor may have flooded the ancient city because it is his home town.
Some residents of Zaria are also of the opinion that the opposition APC should brace up for more challenges as the governor and the PDP would do everything possible to “capture” his hometown, Zaria.
But despite the alleged intimidation and destruction of APC posters, residents are of the view that Zaria would remain in the opposition.
“Since the days of NEPU, Zaria has been a stronghold of opposition parties. However, being the first indigene of the ancient city to become governor of the state, Ramalan Yero is trying hard to break that jinx. When I say indigene of Zaria, I mean somebody from inside the ancient walls of Zaria,” Musa Mai Taya, a resident of Zaria said.
It is now left to be seen, how the fight over posters and billboards between the APC and the PDP would affect the already tensed political atmosphere in Zaria and Kaduna State in general.