Governor AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq of Kwara State has allegedly ordered the removal of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP’s) governorship candidate, Eng Suleiman Bolakale Kawu in some parts of Ilorin metropolis.

Notably, the state’s Signage and Advertisement Agency (KWASAA) stormed Agaka, the home of Kawu to remove his giant billboard strategically placed before moving to Adabata area of the metropolis.

Recall that the KWASAA also removed another Kawu’s campaign billboard at Gerin-Alimi underpass last week.

The state PDP has however said the governor could only remove billboards, not ideas.

It condemned the action as: “political intimidation,” alleging that agents of the state government had moved against Kawu’s billboards in major locations across the state capital.

The latest clamp down occurred on Wednesday when officials of KWASAA stormed Agaka, where Kawu’s family house is located, to remove his giant billboard.

The officials were also reported to have proceeded to the Adabata area of Ilorin, where another billboard belonging to the PDP candidate was removed.

Yesterday’s development has heightened tensions in the state, coming days after KWASAA officials removed Kawu’s campaign materials mounted around the Geri Alimi underpass.

In a statement by the PDP state Publicity Secretary, Olusegun Adewara, the party alleged that the removal of the billboards was linked to Governor AbdulRazaq’s forthcoming turbaning ceremony.

The PDP alleged that the governor did not want his political allies and other guests to see the growing visibility of the opposition party and its governorship candidate.

According to the party, :”the removal of campaign materials would not erase its presence or support among the people.

“The governor must understand that Kwara people are not billboards. Their voices cannot be dismantled. Their choices cannot be pulled down,” the statement said.

The PDP further posited that the people had formed their opinions from their experiences and that no government action could simply erase those convictions.

Kawu himself, also, condemned the removal of his billboards, describing it as “a disturbing display of intolerance and politically motivated.”

He urged the governor to compete with ideas, policies, programmes and performance rather than attempting to suppress the visibility of political opponents.

Kawu said the removal of his name and image from billboards would not affect his commitment to Kwara or his aspiration to serve the people.

“My name may be removed from a billboard, but my commitment to Kwara cannot be removed, nor can my aspiration to serve or the people’s right to choose their leaders,” he said.

The PDP called on Governor AbdulRazaq to immediately halt what it described as political intimidation and direct government agents to stop removing its legitimate campaign materials.

The opposition party also urged the administration to focus on issues affecting residents and prepare to face the electorate rather than using government machinery to restrict the visibility of political opponents.

Kawu, meanwhile, vowed to continue engaging the people of Kwara peacefully, insisting that the removal of billboards would not stop his political campaign.

“You may remove a billboard, but you cannot remove an idea whose time has come,” he said.