By Isaac Mission 

The Action Peoples Party (APP) has alleged that the chairmen of Ideato North and Ideato South Local Government Areas of Imo State are planning to demolish campaign and solidarity billboards belonging to the party and its candidates.

The party specifically named the two council chairmen as Chukwunonso Okpareke of Ideato North and Okwara Okechukwu, popularly known as Morocco, of Ideato South.

Among the billboards allegedly targeted are those belonging to Ikenga Imo Ugochinyere, a member of the House of Representatives representing Ideato North/South Federal Constituency.

The APP, in a statement issued by its Ideato Federal Constituency Media Coordinator, Charles Okafor, said the alleged planned demolition was particularly concerning because of an existing interim order of the Federal Capital Territory High Court in Abuja restraining the defendants in a suit instituted by Ugochinyere from removing, destroying or interfering with his billboards.

Okafor described any attempt to proceed with the demolition as unlawful and capable of creating tension in the area.

He said the affected billboards were properly approved, paid for and installed in accordance with the relevant regulations of the Imo State signage agency.

According to him, the installations include campaign advertisements for APP candidates contesting the Ideato North and Ideato South State House of Assembly seats, as well as the party’s senatorial candidate, Rufus Omeire.

He also identified solidarity billboards erected in support of heads of security agencies among the installations allegedly under threat.

The APP said it had alerted security agencies and members of the public about what it described as an imminent attempt to destroy the billboards.

Okafor stated that evidence backing the party’s position included payment receipts issued by the state signage agency, the relevant court order and a copy of a petition submitted to security authorities.

He alleged that the demolition could take place within five days despite the subsisting judicial order.

APP threatens legal action

The party warned that anyone involved in destroying or removing the billboards could face legal proceedings.

Okafor said the party’s lawyers had been instructed to pursue contempt proceedings against anyone who violated the court order, as well as claims for damages against individuals who authorised or participated in the alleged destruction.

He advised anyone dissatisfied with the court’s decision to seek redress through the legal system instead of taking matters into their own hands.

“Our lawyers have also been put on standby to commence criminal contempt actions against anyone who destroys our legitimate billboards,” he said.

What the court order says

The APP’s position follows an interim injunction granted by the FCT High Court in Abuja in a case filed by Ugochinyere.

The lawmaker approached the court after the Imo State Government, in a June 15, 2026 letter, reportedly restricted him to a maximum of six billboards within his federal constituency ahead of the 2027 elections.

Justice Kayode Agunloye subsequently issued an interim order on July 20 in Suit No. FCT/HC/CV/153/2026, following an ex parte application filed by Ugochinyere through his lawyer, Chibuzor Ezike.

The order restrained the defendants, their agents and representatives from destroying, dismantling, defacing, cutting down or ordering the removal of Ugochinyere’s billboards and signage installed within the constituency.

The court also barred the defendants from preventing Ugochinyere and his supporters from holding peaceful rallies, meetings, processions, campaigns and other civic activities within Ideato Federal Constituency and other parts of Imo State pending the determination of the matter.

The judge further restrained the defendants from enforcing the June 15 directive limiting the number of Ugochinyere’s billboards to six.

Security agencies named as defendants were also barred from providing protection for anyone attempting to remove or destroy the installations under the disputed directive.

Case adjourned to November

When the matter returned to court on July 28, the judge noted that the defendants were still within the legally prescribed period to file their responses and defend the case.

Ugochinyere’s legal team subsequently requested that the interim injunction remain in force during the court vacation, arguing that the defendants were not prepared to proceed with the interlocutory application.

Justice Agunloye extended the interim order and adjourned the matter to November 4 for hearing.

Against this backdrop, the APP said any attempt to remove or damage the billboards would constitute a breach of the court’s directive and could attract legal consequences.

Okafor also appealed to security agencies to intervene and prevent the alleged action from escalating into a public-order crisis.

He maintained that the party’s billboards were lawfully installed after the required approvals and payments had been obtained.