Business owners at Banex Plaza in Abuja reportedly pulled down campaign banners linked to President Bola Tinubu after APC members arrived at the shopping complex, sparking tension between traders and party members.
The incident happened on Thursday afternoon, when traders repeatedly removed the banners, reportedly rejecting their display at the plaza.
Hours later, police officers arrived at the shopping complex and allegedly put the banners back up, warning traders against removing them again. According to accounts from the plaza, the officers threatened that anyone who attempted to pull down the banners would face trouble.
Some accounts also alleged that police officers remained at the location after the market closed to ensure the banners were not removed.
Reacting to the development, one trader expressed frustration over what was described as an attempt to impose the campaign materials on business owners against their wishes.
“We no welcome them, dem dey force us by fire, dey force us, mount police say anybody way go commot am, na problem,” the trader said.
The trader’s remarks reflected the reported anger among some business owners over the presence of the banners and the alleged police intervention to keep them in place.
Banex Plaza is one of Abuja’s major technology and electronics shopping centres, with numerous businesses dealing in phones, computers and other electronic devices. The plaza is often compared to Lagos’ Computer Village because of its role in the technology market.
The reported confrontation has raised questions about the display of political campaign materials in commercial spaces and the role of security personnel when business owners object to them.
As of the time of this report, no independently confirmed statement from the APC, the police or the management of Banex Plaza was available regarding the incident and the allegations made by traders.
