A candidate of the NDC seeking office in the 2027 elections has accused the Lagos State Signage and Advertisement Agency (LASAA) of selectively targeting her campaign materials for removal across Surulere.
The candidate stated that her supporters alerted her to the activities of agency officials who were removing her campaign materials from different parts of the constituency.
The incident comes as political actors begin early positioning for the 2027 general elections, with visibility in key local government areas like Surulere being a critical component of grassroots mobilisation.
LASAA regulation and political signage
LASAA is the statutory body responsible for the regulation of all outdoor advertisements and signage across Lagos State. The agency’s primary mandate is to ensure that outdoor advertising maintains environmental aesthetics and adheres to state urban planning guidelines. To legally display banners or billboards, advertisers and political candidates are required to obtain permits and pay the prescribed fees to the state government.
The agency frequently carries out enforcement drives to remove unauthorised posters and billboards that obstruct traffic views or deface public infrastructure. However, the NDC candidate alleges that the recent removals in Surulere were not part of a general clean-up exercise but were specifically directed at her campaign efforts.
In Lagos, the tension between regulatory enforcement and political expression often peaks during election cycles. Opposition candidates frequently claim that state agencies are used to stifle their visibility, while the state government typically maintains that enforcement is based on the law and the payment of statutory fees.
Surulere, a densely populated and politically active area of Lagos, serves as a strategic hub for candidates looking to secure a strong foothold in the state. The removal of banners in such a location can significantly hinder a candidate’s ability to communicate their platform to the electorate.
LASAA has not yet issued a formal response to the candidate’s allegations. It remains unclear whether the banners in question had the necessary permits or if they were flagged for violating specific placement guidelines.
The candidate has called for fairness in the application of signage laws, arguing that all political aspirants should be treated equally regardless of their party affiliation. The outcome of this dispute may set a precedent for how the state manages early campaign activities leading up to the 2027 polls.
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