The Senior Special Assistant on Media and Publicity to the federal lawmaker representing Ibadan North Federal Constituency, Hon. Folajimi Oyekunle DON, Mr. Akinwale Bodija, has dismissed allegations linking his principal to the removal of PDP campaign billboards in the constituency, describing the claims as false, politically motivated and an attempt to seek public sympathy.
Bodija, in a statement made available to journalists, said Hon. Folajimi Oyekunle has neither the authority nor the institutional responsibility to order the removal of political billboards, stressing that outdoor advertising is regulated by the appropriate government agencies.
According to him, “Rather than seeking pity or creating unnecessary controversy, those making such allegations should engage the people of Ibadan North on issues that genuinely matter to them.”
He noted that Hon. Oyekunle, who is also the APM candidate for the constituency, is currently more focused on delivering meaningful dividends of democracy and ensuring that the people of Ibadan North benefit from effective federal representation than on engaging in billboard politics.
Bodija further questioned the logic behind the allegation, pointing out that campaign billboards belonging to other political parties and opposition candidates remain visible across different parts of the constituency.
“If Hon. Folajimi Oyekunle were truly responsible for the removal of PDP billboards, as being alleged, one would reasonably ask why billboards belonging to other opposition parties and candidates are still standing in various locations,” he said.
The media aide described the allegation as an attempt to divert attention from the issues that should define the 2027 election, urging political actors to focus on their records, programmes and engagement with the electorate rather than resorting to what he described as “manufactured controversies.”
He stressed that elections are not won by the number of billboards displayed across a constituency, but by the confidence, trust and support of the people.
“Elections go beyond billboards. What ultimately matters is what the people can see, feel and identify as the impact of their representatives,” Bodija stated.
He added that Hon. Oyekunle’s attention remains firmly on constituency representation, infrastructure, empowerment and other initiatives aimed at improving the welfare of the people of Ibadan North.
Bodija therefore advised those behind the allegations to engage the electorate directly and present their records and vision for the constituency instead of attempting to create sympathy through unsubstantiated accusations.
“The people are watching. They are more interested in results than propaganda, impact than billboards, and effective representation than politically motivated controversies.
“Let the 2027 election be about performance, ideas, service and the future of Ibadan North, rather than false accusations and the politics of pity,” he said.
