PDP Gubernatorial Candidate Accuses Plateau Government of Political Intimidation, Says Removal Was Linked to Tinubu’s November 14 Visit
The political contest ahead of the 2027 Plateau State governorship election appears to be gathering momentum, with the controversy surrounding the demolition of campaign billboards belonging to Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) gubernatorial candidate, Chief Kefas Ropshik Wungak, popularly known as Kefiano, adding a fresh dimension to the unfolding political drama.
In a strongly worded statement issued on Tuesday, November 4, 2026, Kefiano’s Media Team accused the Plateau State Government of using the Jos Metropolitan Development Board (JMDB) to intimidate political opponents, describing the demolition of the candidate’s billboards across Jos as an act of political persecution disguised as enforcement of regulatory procedures.
The statement specifically challenged JMDB General Manager, Hart Bankat, over his demand for evidence of payment and a deed of agreement, following the board’s explanation that the affected billboards were removed because due process had allegedly not been followed.
However, Kefiano’s camp maintained that the candidate had complied with the necessary procedures, insisting that payments were made to the Advertising Regulatory Council of Nigeria (ARCON), the agency it identified as responsible for issuing advertising permits, as well as TWWIN MULTI-MEDIA, the company engaged to mount the billboards.
According to the Media Team, JMDB ought to have directed any concerns regarding the installations to TWWIN MULTI-MEDIA, whose contact details were reportedly displayed on the affected billboards, rather than resorting to their immediate demolition.
The campaign team further argued that even where regulatory infractions existed, the appropriate procedure was to issue the responsible multimedia company a two-week notice before taking enforcement action. It alleged that no such notice was served before the billboards were pulled down.
More significantly, Kefiano’s camp questioned the timing of the demolition, alleging that it was connected to President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s scheduled visit to Plateau State on November 14, 2026, rather than any genuine regulatory concerns.
The statement claimed that an emissary had approached the candidate, appealing to him not to take further action or reinstall the billboards until November 15, after the President’s visit.
For the PDP candidate’s camp, this alleged intervention raises fundamental questions about the real motive behind the exercise, particularly its insistence that if the removal was genuinely based on regulatory violations, there would have been no reason to link the matter to the President’s visit.
The development has consequently opened another political front in Plateau State, where the struggle for the 2027 governorship seat is already generating intense political calculations, alignments and exchanges among competing interests.
Kefiano’s Media Team has therefore demanded an unreserved apology from the JMDB General Manager over what it described as an attempt to tarnish the candidate’s reputation through allegations of non-compliance. It also called for the immediate restoration of the demolished billboards and strict adherence to Section 99(2) of the 2026 Electoral Act, which it cited in support of its position against arbitrary interference with candidates' political activities.
Describing the incident as political intimidation and an oppressive attempt to silence opposition voices, the team maintained that the candidate would not be deterred from exercising his political rights or pursuing his ambition ahead of the 2027 elections.
Although JMDB had yet to respond to the latest allegations and demands as of the time of filing this report, the controversy has raised broader questions about the balance between urban development regulations, political advertising and the need to guarantee a level playing field for all political actors.
Ultimately, the unfolding billboard controversy presents an early test of political tolerance and institutional neutrality as Plateau State gradually moves towards the 2027 electoral contest. For Kefiano, the demand is straightforward: an apology, restoration of the billboards and respect for the rules governing political participation.
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