2027: NDC Candidate Accuses LASAA Of Targeting Her Campaign Banners

The Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC) candidate for Surulere Federal Constituency I, Dr Adefolaseye Adebayo, has accused the Lagos State Signage and Advertisement Agency (LASAA) of selectively removing her campaign banners while allegedly leaving those of the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) in place.

Adebayo, a medical surgeon, made the allegation during an interview with Channels Television, claiming that the removal of her campaign materials began shortly after the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) officially opened the campaign period for the 2027 elections.

According to the NDC candidate, some of her supporters alerted her after allegedly seeing LASAA officials remove her banners from different locations across the constituency.

“On my way from work, someone called me that my banners were being taken away from different locations all over Surulere, and it was specifically my banners alone,” Adebayo said.

She said she later confronted the officials and was told they were acting on behalf of LASAA.

“I left work, I met up with these people and they said they were from LASAA,” she added.

Adebayo said the officials explained that streetlight poles and other public infrastructure had been allocated to government-approved outdoor advertising practitioners.

She, however, questioned the explanation, alleging that APC campaign banners were still displayed at some of the same locations where hers had been removed.

“I noticed that at one particular spot, my banner with the state assembly candidates… was there, but mine wasn’t picked,” she said.

The candidate said the incident reinforced her belief that she was being deliberately targeted because of her political affiliation.

“That was when I knew that there was sort of witch hunting… everywhere my banner was, those ones in the streets… taken away. That was when I knew something is going on that I’m being victimized,” she said.

Despite her allegations, Adebayo said she would not take legal action against LASAA, choosing instead to replace the removed banners.

“I won’t sue them… I will just thank them for giving me this publicity because if they didn’t pick it, I’m sure nobody would,” she said.

Adebayo also defended her decision to combine her medical career with politics, arguing that professionals should participate directly in governance rather than remain outside the political system while criticising its shortcomings.

“I’m an active surgeon. I intend to break the jinx that you can’t do the two together,” she said.

“If you don’t come into the game of politics, you can’t keep complaining,” she added.

If elected to the House of Representatives, Adebayo said she would prioritise greater participation of women in politics, economic empowerment and capacity building.

She rejected the idea that women’s empowerment should centre on cash handouts, saying, “Empowering doesn’t mean giving women handouts, fifty thousand.”

“Women are capable, and women are the best leaders. When women get into something, they put their whole hearts into it,” she added.