Former President of the Nigerian Bar Association (NBA), Mazi Afam Osigwe, SAN, has accused some state governments of usurping functions constitutionally assigned to local governments, alleging that the practice is being used to frustrate opposition parties ahead of elections. Osigwe made the allegation on Thursday at the ongoing 22nd All Nigeria Editors Conference (ANEC) in Enugu, organized by the Nigeria Guild of Editors (NGE). Speaking during an opening session themed 'The Ballot, the Media and the Task of Keeping Democracy Alive,' he cited the regulation of campaign billboards and other signages as an area where state authorities had allegedly encroached on local government functions. He alleged that some state governments had taken over the regulation of signages and imposed huge fees and fines on opposition parties seeking to erect campaign billboards.
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