Minister of Aviation and Aerospace Development, Festus Keyamo, has condemned the reported destruction of All Progressives Congress (APC) campaign posters by a man seen carrying a weapon in a video circulating online.
Keyamo, in a post shared on X, alleged that the incident was deliberately orchestrated as part of a propaganda campaign aimed at creating the impression that President Bola Tinubu has lost the support of Nigerians.
The minister argued that the video appeared to have been intentionally recorded and circulated, suggesting that the incident was designed to generate a particular political narrative.
According to him, similar occurrences may be taking place in different parts of the country, with the intention of portraying the President as being unpopular among voters.
Keyamo questioned what he described as the lack of condemnation from journalists and online platforms over the incident. He contrasted it with an earlier occurrence in Lagos, where individuals allegedly used Tinubu’s campaign posters to cover materials belonging to an opposition party.
While stating that the Lagos incident was also unacceptable, Keyamo claimed that television programmes and some online platforms quickly labelled those involved as supporters of the ruling party and accused them of intimidation.
He maintained that the media response to the two incidents demonstrated what he considered to be a double standard in the coverage of political activities.
The minister further accused opposition elements of employing propaganda strategies aimed at damaging the reputation of the APC ahead of the 2027 general election.
Keyamo alleged that the objective was to create the perception that the ruling party had become unpopular and could therefore be portrayed as having suffered defeat at the polls.
He said the destruction of political campaign materials should not be encouraged regardless of the party involved, stressing that such actions should not be used to provoke supporters or create tension.
Keyamo also warned APC supporters against responding to the incident through retaliation or violence.
He urged Nigerians and political actors to exercise restraint and allow political disagreements to be addressed through lawful and democratic channels.
The minister said the controversy should serve as a reminder to political stakeholders and members of the media about the need for fairness when reporting incidents involving rival political parties.
He maintained that political parties and their supporters should be subjected to the same standards when incidents involving campaign materials, intimidation or alleged misconduct are reported.
Keyamo’s comments come amid increasing political activities ahead of Nigeria’s 2027 elections, with major political parties intensifying their mobilisation and public campaigns across the country.
While the minister described the poster-destruction incident as a coordinated propaganda effort, that characterisation remains his allegation about the circumstances surrounding the video.
