By Chidinma Nwaoji
Anambra Warns Political Parties Over N50m Campaign Fee, Moves to Enforce Compliance
With the Anambra governorship election approaching on November 8, 2025, the Anambra State Signage and Advertisement Agency (ANSAA) has issued a fresh warning to political parties violating the mandatory N50 million campaign permit fee.
Speaking during a press briefing on Tuesday in Awka, ANSAA’s Managing Director, Tony Ujubuonu, revealed that only five of the 16 participating political parties have so far complied with the payment, which grants permission for outdoor campaign activities such as billboards, posters, vehicle branding, and banners.
Read more:Anambra Govt Clears Air on Nnewi North Contract Scandal, Says No Bribe Involved
The compliant parties include the Young Progressives Party (YPP), African Democratic Congress (ADC), Action Alliance (AA), Labour Party (LP), and the All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA), with APGA being the latest to comply as of July 2.
Ujubuonu expressed concern over the continued defiance of some parties, singling out one major party—unnamed—for repeatedly breaching the law despite being served several demand notices and reminders.
“Some political parties have blatantly ignored the required payment, yet have gone ahead to conduct unauthorised campaigns—mounting unapproved billboards, branding vehicles, hosting rallies, and placing materials without due clearance from the Advertising Regulatory Council of Nigeria (ARCON),” he stated.
He recounted a recent clash in Nri, Aniocha Local Government Area, where ANSAA officials were allegedly assaulted by party supporters during enforcement activities.
According to Ujubuonu, the agency had issued two separate notices to the defaulting party over a two-month period, each offering a two-week grace period, followed by a final legal reminder with an additional one-week window. The party later submitted a backdated letter on August 1, which ANSAA dismissed as a stalling tactic.
“We received the letter, but it came after the deadline. As far as the agency is concerned, it does not change anything,” he added, confirming that the matter has been officially reported to the police.
Ujubuonu vowed to uphold the law, stressing that ANSAA has exhausted civil and administrative measures, and would now proceed with legal enforcement to ensure fairness and compliance.
“We call on the public and the press to take note. The agency has acted within the law at every stage. We will now enforce full compliance professionally,” he declared.
Meanwhile, ANSAA acknowledged that some political parties have opted for alternative campaign methods—using social media, radio, and TV—to avoid breaching out-of-home advertising regulations, a strategy the agency deems acceptable if done within legal limits.
Also speaking, the agency’s Assistant General Manager, Chika Ngobiri, recounted how his team narrowly escaped physical attack during the incident in Nri, urging political actors to act within the boundaries of the law.