Ishola Rauf Shina, the African Action Congress (AAC) candidate for the Lagos State House of Assembly, Kosofe Constituency 1, has condemned the destruction of his campaign banner at Car Wash, Oworoshoki, describing the incident as an attack on democratic participation and the right of opposition parties to campaign freely ahead of the 2027 general elections.
Shina, in a press statement issued on Tuesday, accused individuals he described as political thugs and campaign banner destroyers associated with the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) of involvement in the incident, calling on the Lagos State Government and the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to take decisive steps to protect opposition candidates from intimidation and obstruction.
The AAC candidate said the banner was produced and erected through the personal sacrifices, financial contributions and hard-earned resources of his supporters and campaign team, stressing that its destruction went beyond damage to campaign material and represented an attempt to suppress his political message and deny his campaign visibility among residents of Kosofe Constituency 1.
He described the incident as unacceptable in a democratic society, insisting that every political party and candidate must be allowed to communicate their programmes, engage voters and seek public support without fear of harassment or deliberate obstruction.
Shina also called on the Lagos State Government, under the APC administration, to demonstrate its commitment to democratic governance by ensuring that political opponents are not subjected to intimidation, harassment or the destruction of campaign materials.
According to him, a government that claims to represent the people must protect the political rights of all citizens, including those who choose to support opposition parties and alternative candidates.
The AAC candidate further raised concerns about what he described as unequal access to public spaces and the alleged deliberate destruction of opposition campaign materials while ruling-party campaign activities enjoy greater visibility.
He argued that any use of public funds, government facilities or state institutions to provide partisan electoral advantages would raise serious questions about fairness, accountability and the responsible management of public resources.
“Public resources belong to the people of Lagos State, not to any political party or campaign organisation,” Shina stated, calling for transparency and equal treatment of political parties as preparations for the 2027 elections gather momentum.
He maintained that the electoral environment must not be structured to favour candidates backed by government machinery, political patronage or enormous financial resources at the expense of those relying on personal contributions and grassroots support.
Turning his attention to INEC, Shina urged the electoral commission to treat the destruction of the campaign banner as a serious matter and strengthen measures to prevent political intimidation, campaign-related violence and other activities capable of undermining the credibility of the forthcoming elections.
He called on the commission to investigate the incident at Car Wash, Oworoshoki, and encourage the appropriate authorities to identify those responsible.
He also urged INEC to intensify its monitoring of political parties’ campaign activities, engage security agencies and relevant stakeholders to prevent violence, and ensure that complaints from opposition parties receive fair and timely attention.
The AAC candidate further called on the commission to ensure that no political party uses public institutions, government influence or public resources to undermine the campaigns of its competitors.
Shina stressed that INEC must exercise its legal responsibilities impartially and respond appropriately to electoral misconduct, warning that failure to address credible complaints could undermine public confidence in the electoral process.
He insisted that the 2027 general elections must be conducted in an atmosphere of peace, transparency, fairness and credibility, with all political parties given a reasonable opportunity to present their candidates and programmes to the electorate.
The candidate said the AAC rejects what he described as a political culture in which candidates with limited financial resources face additional obstacles while attempting to reach voters.
He explained that his campaign depends on personal sacrifice and contributions from committed supporters who are determined to offer residents of Kosofe Constituency 1 an alternative to the existing political order.
According to him, the destruction of campaign materials purchased with these resources is particularly troubling because it places additional financial pressure on candidates who are already working with limited means.
Shina maintained that elections should be determined by the quality of candidates, policies, integrity, leadership and the genuine support of voters rather than intimidation, political influence or unequal access to campaign opportunities.
He called on residents of Oworoshoki and other communities across Kosofe Constituency 1 to insist on their right to hear from every candidate, scrutinise competing manifestoes and make political choices without fear or manipulation.
Despite the incident, the AAC candidate declared that the destruction of the banner would not discourage his campaign or weaken his commitment to the constituency.
He said his political mission extends beyond banners and other campaign materials, describing it as a movement focused on responsible leadership, accountable governance, improved public infrastructure, accessible education, better healthcare, affordable housing and expanded opportunities for residents.
Shina added that he intends to continue engaging communities, presenting policies and mobilising support peacefully and lawfully, regardless of attempts to obstruct his campaign.
“Our campaign is bigger than a banner,” he stated, reaffirming his commitment to building a constituency where residents are heard, public resources are responsibly managed and elected representatives remain accountable to the people who elected them.
He also called on community leaders, youth organisations, traders, artisans, civil society groups and other democratic-minded Nigerians to condemn political intimidation and support a peaceful, inclusive electoral process.
The candidate urged his supporters to remain calm and law-abiding, warning against any response that could escalate tensions or lead to violence.
He said the AAC would pursue its demands through lawful action, public advocacy, peaceful mobilisation and continued engagement with voters rather than allowing provocation to derail its campaign.
Shina further called on relevant authorities to ensure that political campaigns across Lagos State are conducted in a manner that respects the rights of all parties and candidates, regardless of their political strength or access to financial resources.
Reaffirming his commitment to the African Action Congress and the people of Kosofe Constituency 1, the candidate declared that his campaign would continue under the slogan “Mission to Liberation,” with the 2027 election representing what he described as a new direction for the constituency.
He said he would not surrender his democratic rights, abandon his campaign or allow intimidation to determine the political future of Kosofe.
“The people of Kosofe deserve better. Lagos deserves better. Nigeria deserves a democracy in which every political party and every candidate has a fair opportunity to compete,” he declared.
Shina concluded by demanding a peaceful electoral environment, equal campaign opportunities and a free, fair and credible 2027 general election, insisting that his campaign would continue to engage the electorate with courage, dignity and determination.
His closing message was unequivocal: “We shall continue to march forward until victory is certain!”
The statement was signed by Ishola Rauf Shina, AAC candidate for the Lagos State House of Assembly, Kosofe Constituency 1, under the campaign motto, “Mission to Liberation,” and the slogan, “2027: A New Direction for Kosofe.”
The campaign also reaffirmed its message: “We Can’t Continue Like This.”