Chief Uche Geoffrey Nnaji, the Peoples Democratic Party governorship candidate in Enugu State, has accused the state government of “lawlessness” following an alleged raid on his campaign office along Abakaliki Road, where he said campaign posters and other materials were removed.

Nnaji alleged that officials of the Enugu State Environmental Protection Agency entered the premises and tore down campaign liveries displayed on the office, fence and surrounding areas.

He described the alleged action as an invasion of his privacy and a troubling escalation of the dispute over political advertising in the state.

“My privacy has been invaded by the Enugu State Government. My personal campaign office was attacked by the Enugu State Environmental Protection Agency and all my posters torn down in contravention of an ongoing court process,” Nnaji said in a statement.

The former Minister of Innovation, Science and Technology said the alleged enforcement action was particularly concerning because of a pending legal challenge over the state’s political signage regulations.

According to him, a Motion on Notice had been served on the relevant parties and the parties were awaiting the hearing of the case when the alleged removal took place.

“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’,” he said.

Nnaji argued that government agencies should exercise restraint when a disputed policy is before a court, saying political disagreements should not override respect for private property and due process.

“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,” he said.

The legal challenge follows the introduction of a mandatory ₦150 million advertising permit by the Enugu State Structures for Signage and Advertisement Agency for political parties and candidates participating in the 2026 and 2027 elections. The agency said the permit covers various forms of outdoor and visual campaign promotion across the state’s 17 local government areas.

ENSSAA General Manager Francis Aninwike said the permit was part of the agency’s statutory responsibility to regulate outdoor advertising, maintain environmental aesthetics and protect public infrastructure.

The agency subsequently reaffirmed its ban on the unauthorised pasting and display of posters across the state, warning political parties, candidates, campaign organisations and supporters that violations could attract financial penalties and other sanctions. The September 9 notice said the restriction was backed by the Enugu State Structures for Signage and Advertisement Agency Law No. 12 of 2016.

ENSSAA had also previously announced a statewide enforcement exercise against unauthorised outdoor advertisements, including political campaign materials, stating that the exercise was not targeted at any individual or political group.

The ₦150 million permit has, however, remained a major point of disagreement between the state authorities and opposition parties.

In June, the PDP and other opposition parties instituted a suit challenging the legality of the permit requirement. Reports on the case said the parties asked the Federal High Court to determine whether ENSSAA and the Enugu State Government had the constitutional authority to impose the fee on political parties and candidates.

Nnaji maintained that the existence of a signage regulation did not remove the obligation of government agencies to respect due process, citizens’ rights and judicial proceedings.

“Why the haste? Why destroy first when the court is already seized of the matter?” he asked.

“The rule of law requires patience, restraint and respect for due process. 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.”

The controversy comes as political activities intensify in Enugu following the September 26 local government elections and ahead of the 2027 general election. ENSSAA has maintained that its advertising restrictions apply regardless of political affiliation and has urged political actors to use approved advertising channels and other platforms for campaign communication.

Nnaji, who was recently confirmed as the PDP’s governorship candidate for the 2027 Enugu election, has continued to criticise the state government over issues including campaign regulation and the political environment in the state.

For the PDP candidate, however, the latest dispute is not simply about the cost of political advertising. He said the central issue was the alleged entry into his campaign premises and removal of campaign materials while the legality of the signage regime remains subject to judicial consideration.