Reported by: Oahimire Omone Precious | Edited by: Oravbiere Osayomore Promise.
The Adamawa State Government has filed criminal charges against the governorship aspirant of the African Democratic Congress (ADC), Engineer Umar Suleiman, popularly known as Omarana, over allegations that he pasted campaign posters on the Unity Flyover in Yola. The move, which has ignited intense political debate across the state, has been condemned by critics as an attempt to intimidate a prominent opposition figure ahead of the 2027 governorship election. Court documents obtained by SaharaReporters show that the case was filed before Chief Magistrate Court II in Yola on Monday, 6 July 2026, with the Adamawa State Ministry of Environment, the State Urban Planning Authority, and the Attorney-General listed as complainants.
According to the court filings, the government is relying on an Executive Order issued by Governor Ahmadu Umaru Fintiri, which prohibits the placement of campaign posters and billboards on public infrastructure, including the Unity Flyover. The complainants allege that Suleiman violated the directive and thereby breached Section 30(1) of the Environmental Protection Agency Law, Cap 51, Laws of Adamawa State, 1997. The prosecution was initiated under Section 111 of the Administration of Criminal Justice Law (ACJL), 2018. The government is seeking the issuance of a criminal summons against the ADC aspirant and urging the court to take cognizance of the alleged offence.
The legal action has drawn sharp criticism from opposition supporters and political observers, who have questioned both its timing and its selectivity. Many argue that the prosecution raises serious questions, particularly as campaign materials promoting President Bola Tinubu, Governor Fintiri, and other All Progressives Congress (APC) politicians remain visibly displayed on the same flyover and other public structures across the state. SaharaReporters independently observed that campaign billboards of Governor Fintiri, President Tinubu, and other APC politicians remain mounted on sections of the Unity Flyover and other public infrastructure.
Public affairs commentator Bello Amos described the case as "political persecution" and asked: "If the government is serious about enforcing the law, why is only one opposition candidate facing criminal prosecution while posters belonging to APC leaders remain on the same public infrastructure?" Another political analyst, Sani Bulus, said the development risks creating the impression of unequal application of the law. "It is difficult to understand how authorities can prosecute one individual over alleged defacement while campaign materials belonging to government officials and ruling party politicians remain on the very same bridge," he said.
Legal practitioners who spoke on the matter also questioned the legal foundation of the charges. Yola-based lawyer, Barrister Pwamaddi Shagnah, argued that an Executive Order alone cannot create a criminal offence. "When we talk about offences known to law, we are referring to offences created by the Constitution, the Penal Code or legislation enacted by the appropriate legislative authority. An Executive Order, by itself, does not amount to penal legislation capable of grounding a criminal prosecution," he said. Another lawyer, Danbaba Rigange, described the prosecution as "selective, discriminatory and malicious".
However, Adamawa State Commissioner for Information, Barrister Leader Leneke, said he was unaware of the lawsuit but promised to obtain details from the Ministry of Environment. Speaking in his capacity as a legal practitioner, however, Leneke rejected suggestions that the prosecution rests solely on an Executive Order, pointing instead to the Environmental Protection Agency Law, Cap. 51, Laws of Adamawa State, 1997.
The ADC candidate's campaign organisation, the Omarana Campaign Organisation, has strongly condemned the legal action. In a statement signed by its Director-General, Elder Mark Wosi, the group expressed concern that governance in Adamawa appears to be increasingly reduced to political distraction instead of addressing the pressing challenges confronting the people of the state. "It is equally disappointing that the ministry charged with protecting the environment has, throughout the nearly eight years of the present administration, struggled to provide any meaningful or lasting solutions to the persistent challenges of indiscriminate waste disposal, overflowing refuse dumps, poor sanitation, blocked drainage systems and other environmental concerns that continue to affect communities across the state," the statement read.
The campaign organisation also disclosed that it had already issued a clear directive to all supporters, volunteers, coordinators, and members of the Omarana Movement to immediately desist from the indiscriminate placement of posters, banners, stickers, and other publicity materials on public infrastructure or private property. The group further alleged that political posters from several political parties are displayed in many parts of Adamawa State, and the apparent focus on the ADC raises legitimate questions about the consistency and impartiality of enforcement. "If environmental regulations are to be enforced, they should be enforced fairly and uniformly against every political party and every candidate, irrespective of political affiliation. Equal application of the law is the foundation of justice and democratic governance," the statement added.
The Omarana Campaign Organisation maintained that no legal proceeding would distract Suleiman from engaging the people of Adamawa with his message of hope, responsible leadership, and practical solutions. It called on supporters to remain peaceful, law-abiding, and respectful of the environment at all times, while urging authorities to enforce all laws impartially and professionally. As of the time of filing this report, Suleiman had not publicly responded to the allegations contained in the court documents. The case, which is expected to attract significant public and political attention, is now set to proceed in Yola as legal proceedings commence.
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