The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and the All Progressives Congress (APC) have accused each other of allegedly destroying the billboards and posters of their governorship candidates.

Last week, the Head of Media and Publicity of Eyitayo Jegede Campaign Organisation, Kayode Fasua, said the APC was destroying billboards and posters of the PDP’s candidate.

He alleged that APC supporters destroyed them in Akure to deceive President Muhammadu Buhari who was expected to visit the state. “The security agents are aware that Jegede’s posters and other insignias of electioneering are still permitted to be on display, pending the final discharge of all suits relating to the contest. The APC chieftains and thugs broke the law by destroying Jegede’s emblems,” he said.

Reacting, the State Publicity Secretary of the APC, Mr. Abayomi Adesanya, refuted the allegation, stating that the PDP was intimidated by its growing popularity among the voters.

Also yesterday, the Director of Media and Publicity of the APC, Mr. Steve Otaloro, alleged that the PDP supporters, in a counter-attack, destroyed the billboards and posters of its candidate, Rotimi Akeredolu.

The APC chieftain said the destruction took place after the Court of Appeal’s ruling in Abuja that Jegede had the right to appeal against the declaration of Jimoh Ibrahim as the PDP’s candidate.

He accused Governor Olusegun Mimiko of failing to stop the PDP supporters when they celebrated the court ruling in Akure, the state capital.

He added that there was a plot by the PDP to destroy its posters to embarrass the APC.The Guardian learnt that these alleged acts of violence are a breach of the peace accord which the parties and their candidates signed some weeks ago.

The state Commissioner of Police, Mrs. Hilda Ibifuro-Harrison, who organised the deal, had warned that destroying billboards and posters of opponents would be punishable during the electioneering.

She urged all candidates to “refrain from campaigns of calumny, religious sentiment, ethnic chauvinism or tribal jingoism.” However, the state Police Public Relations Officer (PPRO), Mr. Femi Joseph, has denied knowledge of the destruction.

He said: “Officially, we are yet to receive any report concerning that. We only read it on the pages of newspapers. I called my divisional police officers within the metropolis and none of them said there was an official report on that.”

The PPRO warned: “Any officer that allows such to happen in his or her jurisdiction would be queried,” adding “under-cover police officers had been deployed to monitor the electioneering.”