By Sophia Afolabi
The Anambra State Government has introduced fresh regulations for political campaigns ahead of the 2027 general elections, imposing a ₦50 million permit fee on presidential candidates seeking to campaign in the state.
The new directive was announced by the Anambra State Signage and Advertisement Agency (ANSAA), which stated that all political parties and candidates intending to conduct campaign activities or display campaign materials across the state must obtain official permits before doing so.
Under the new guidelines, presidential candidates are required to pay ₦50 million for campaign permits, while senatorial candidates will pay ₦20 million.
Candidates contesting seats in the House of Representatives are expected to pay ₦5 million, while chairmanship candidates will pay ₦2.5 million. State House of Assembly candidates will pay ₦1.5 million, while councillorship candidates will be charged ₦100,000.
Speaking at a press briefing in Awka, the Assistant General Manager of ANSAA, Chika Ngobili, said the regulations were introduced to regulate political campaigns and outdoor advertising activities ahead of the elections.
He said the permit would cover various campaign activities and materials, including posters, billboards, branded vehicles, banners, public address systems, campaign booths, fliers, branded clothing, rallies and street campaigns.
Ngobili noted that the agency was acting within its statutory mandate to regulate outdoor advertising and maintain order across the state.
According to him, the government also seeks to prevent the indiscriminate defacement of public infrastructure during election campaigns.
“The guidelines were issued in line with the regulatory framework governing political campaign activities in Anambra State,” he said.
He added that the policy was designed to ensure fairness among political parties and candidates seeking access to advertising spaces across the state.
The agency further directed that all political advertisements and campaign materials must obtain clearance from the Advertising Regulatory Council of Nigeria (ARCON) before being displayed publicly.
ANSAA also announced restrictions on locations where campaign materials can be displayed.
The agency warned that posters and banners must not be pasted on government buildings, road signs, bridges, flyovers, utility facilities, schools, hospitals and other public infrastructure.
Ngobili stated that political parties and support groups would not be permitted to erect billboards on their own, stressing that only practitioners registered with ARCON and licensed by ANSAA would be allowed to handle outdoor political advertisements in the state.
He also warned against the destruction or removal of opponents’ campaign materials, noting that enforcement teams would be deployed across the state to ensure compliance.
According to him, anyone found violating the regulations would be sanctioned in line with existing state laws.
