Kogi guber poll: Court strikes out Dino Melaye’s suit against N50m campaign signage fees

Dino Melaye, the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) candidate for governor in the November 11 election in Kogi State, filed a petition challenging the Kogi State Signage and Advertsement Agency’s (KSSA) imposition of campaign charges on political parties, but the suit was dismissed by a high court sitting in Lokoja.

In preparation for the governor’s race, the Agency demanded that political parties fork out N50 million in order to put up billboards and paste up posters.

For each billboard put up in the state, the political parties have been told to fork out N2 million.

Melaye asked the court to rule that the allegations brought against him by the Agency were invalid in an exparte motion filed on September 12.

He also argued that the Agency’s establishment was illegal and sought the court to declare it null and void.

On Monday, however, Justice Ruth Alfa issued a ruling dismissing the motion as without merit.

The judge ruled that the exparte motion was improper and did not look into the merits of the case.

Osaseyi Richard, the Agency’s general manager, has said that as of right now, all illegal billboards and other types of outdoor advertising in the state will be defaced and removed.

He suggested that people go to the Agency to make any payments required for billboards.

Osaseyi went on to express gratitude to the citizens of Kogi for abiding by the law and maintaining calm throughout the state, and he pledged that the Agency will fulfill its mission of cleaning up the state’s outdoor advertising at all times.