Anambra Suspends Traffic Officers for Singing Obi Campaign Song

The Anambra State Traffic Management Agency (ATMA) has suspended some of its officers for two months without pay after they were captured in a viral video singing a political campaign song associated with Peter Obi and his running mate, Senator Rabiu Kwankwaso.

The officers were reportedly sanctioned after a video showing them singing in support of the Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC) presidential ticket circulated widely on social media, generating reactions over the involvement of government officials in political activities while performing their official duties.

According to information gathered by POLITICS NIGERIA, the agency’s management announced the disciplinary measure on Tuesday after investigating the incident and summoning the affected personnel to its headquarters in Awka.

The incident reportedly took place at Nwagu Agulu Junction, where the officers were assigned to manage traffic and ensure the smooth movement of vehicles.

In the viral recording, the traffic officers were seen singing a campaign song associated with Obi and Kwankwaso while interacting with a motorist.

Their action subsequently attracted public attention, particularly because of their status as government employees responsible for carrying out official duties.

The development prompted the agency to invite the officers to explain what happened and why they engaged in an activity considered political while on duty.

Following the internal disciplinary process, the management reportedly handed down a two-month suspension without salary.

The punishment means that the affected officers will temporarily lose their source of income during the period of their suspension.

Although the agency’s management has reportedly taken action against the personnel, details surrounding the circumstances that led to their decision to sing the campaign song remain unclear.

There were suggestions that the officers might have been influenced by the political identity of the motorist, as they reportedly noticed an NDC logo inside the vehicle before breaking into the campaign song.

However, it remains uncertain whether the officers deliberately engaged in political mobilisation or simply reacted to the presence of the party’s symbol in the vehicle.

The disciplinary action has reportedly left some of the affected personnel worried about their financial situation and future within the agency.

Information gathered indicates that some of them have been seeking assistance from influential individuals who could approach the relevant authorities and appeal for a reconsideration of the punishment.

Their relatives have also reportedly expressed concern over the development, particularly the decision to suspend them without payment for two months.

They are said to be appealing to public-spirited individuals to assist the affected officers in securing alternative employment opportunities should the situation become difficult for them.

Although public officers remain citizens with constitutional rights, their employment conditions and the regulations guiding their respective institutions may place restrictions on partisan political activities, especially when such activities are carried out during official working hours.

Government agencies are generally expected to maintain neutrality in the discharge of their responsibilities.

This is particularly important for personnel whose duties involve interacting with members of the public and enforcing government regulations.

Traffic officers are expected to concentrate on maintaining order on the roads, preventing traffic congestion and ensuring that motorists comply with applicable regulations.

However, the circumstances surrounding the ATMA incident have raised questions about the extent to which public employees can express political preferences while wearing official uniforms and carrying out government assignments.

It is not yet clear whether the two-month suspension was based strictly on a violation of the agency’s operational guidelines or whether other considerations informed the decision.

The management has also not provided further publicly available details explaining the specific provisions allegedly breached by the affected officers.

Obi, a former governor of Anambra State, remains an influential political figure in the South-East and is seeking the presidency under the NDC platform, with Kwankwaso as his running mate.

In a related development, Anambra State Governor, Professor Chukwuma Soludo, recently spoke about his relationship with Peter Obi, insisting that their political disagreements had not destroyed their personal friendship.

On November 3, Soludo addressed the controversy surrounding his relationship with the former Anambra governor during an interview with BBC News Igbo.

The governor maintained that both families remained close despite their different political interests and disagreements over issues concerning Anambra State and national politics.

Soludo said, “Peter Obi and I are good friends. Our two families are on good terms.”

He further explained the relationship between their families, disclosing that Obi’s wife served as the baptismal godmother of one of his children, while his wife, Nonye Soludo, was the confirmation godmother of Obi’s child.

Speaking about their political disagreements, the governor stated, “But when it comes to politics, give me mine, give him his. It’s politics that is being done.”

Soludo also recalled the 2021 Anambra governorship election, during which Obi supported the candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Oseloka Obaze, while Soludo contested under the platform of the All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA).

He maintained that Obi was entitled to support whoever he considered suitable for the governorship position, adding that he did not hold the decision against him.

The governor also revisited his controversial criticism of Obi’s presidential ambition ahead of the 2023 general election.

At the time, Soludo questioned the former governor’s chances of winning and argued that his participation could affect the electoral fortunes of the PDP.

Soludo maintained that his earlier comments were based on his political calculations and the circumstances surrounding the 2023 election.