Wike Signs Executive Order 22 …Activates Outdoor Signage, Advertisement Law Enforcement

Rivers State Governor, Chief Nyesom Wike, has signed Executive Order 22, prohibiting the use of premises, buildings and structures in residential areas in urban and non-urban areas as campaign offices by political parties without approval.
The order also prohibits the posting of bills or posters or any other material in unauthorised places.
Speaking while signing the order, last weekend in the Rivers State Executive Council Chamber, Governor Nyesom Wike condemned the incessant defacement of expensive public properties, particularly in Port Harcourt through indiscriminate posting of handbills, banners, posters and all sorts of unauthorised materials.
A statement signed by the state Commissioner for Information and Communications, Chris Finebone, in Port Harcourt, yesterday, indicated that the Executive Order 22 also prescribes that “any political party or association or body of persons however called or described that wishes to use any premises, building or structure situate in a residential area in any urban area of Rivers State as campaign office must obtain permission from the Rivers State Commissioner for Urban and Physical Planning.”
The Executive Order RVSG – 22 came into effect on Friday, November 11, 2022
Wike had also signed the Order 21 that banned the use of schools and public spaces for political campaigns without the state government approval recently.
An application must be made two weeks ahead of the political programme and even when approval is given, there must be a non-refundable deposit fee of N5million by the political parties.
Opposition political parties have criticized the earlier Executive Order 21 as a calculated attempt to emasculate them from embarking on political campaigns.