By Emeka Chiaghanam
New guidelines set early tone for upcoming election
campaigns
The Anambra State Signage and Advertisement Agency (ANSAA)
has taken a decisive step ahead of the 2027 general elections, issuing strict
new guidelines that will govern how political parties and candidates carry out
outdoor campaigns across the state.
At a press briefing held on Friday in Awka, the agency made
it clear that no political party or candidate will be allowed to begin outdoor
campaign activities without first obtaining an official permit.
According to ANSAA, the new framework is designed to bring
order, fairness, and structure to political advertising while also protecting
public infrastructure and the visual environment of the state.
A regulated campaign space for a growing democracy
Speaking at the briefing, Assistant General Manager of
ANSAA, Engr. Chika Ngobili, explained that the move is not to restrict
political expression, but to ensure that campaigns are conducted in an
organised and responsible manner.
He said the agency is working to prevent visual pollution,
uncontrolled billboarding, and the abuse of public spaces as political
competition begins to build ahead of the Independent National Electoral
Commission (INEC) lifting the ban on campaigns.
Ngobili stressed that ANSAA’s goal is to guarantee equal
access to advertising spaces, reduce conflict among political actors, and
maintain professional standards across all outdoor promotions.
Permit fees announced for all levels of candidates
One of the most attention-grabbing parts of the announcement
was the release of approved permit fees for different categories of political
candidates.
Under the new structure, presidential candidates are
expected to pay ₦50
million, while senatorial candidates will pay ₦20 million. House of Representatives
candidates will pay ₦5 million, and House of Assembly
candidates ₦1.5
million.
At the local government level, chairmanship candidates will
pay ₦2.5
million, while councillorship candidates will pay ₦100,000.
ANSAA explained that these permits will cover all forms of
outdoor political activity, including posters, banners, branded vehicles,
public address systems, campaign booths, T-shirts, caps, flyers, buntings, and
rallies, but only within approved locations.
The agency said the system is intended to ensure that
campaign activities do not become chaotic or environmentally damaging.
ARCON approval made compulsory before display
Beyond obtaining permits from ANSAA, all campaign materials
must also be vetted and approved by the Advertising Regulatory Council of
Nigeria (ARCON) before they can be used in public spaces.
ANSAA further warned that only registered and licensed
advertising practitioners recognised by ARCON and authorised by the agency will
be allowed to design or erect billboards and other advertising structures.
It stressed that political parties must avoid using
unregistered agents, as such actions would lead to removal of materials and
possible sanctions.
Ban on abuse of public spaces and campaign misconduct
The agency also introduced strict rules against the
indiscriminate pasting of posters on public buildings, bridges, road signs,
drainage systems, schools, hospitals, and other restricted infrastructure.
It warned political actors and supporters against defacing
or destroying opponents’ campaign materials, describing such behaviour as
unlawful and contrary to democratic values.
ANSAA said enforcement teams will be deployed across the
state to monitor compliance throughout the campaign period, adding that
offenders will face penalties under existing state laws.
Call for peaceful and respectful campaigns
While the guidelines are firm, ANSAA also used the
opportunity to appeal for peace and maturity among political actors.
The agency urged political parties, candidates, and their
supporters to treat elections as a democratic exercise rather than a
“do-or-die” affair.
It encouraged all stakeholders to respect one another’s
campaign materials, avoid provocation, and maintain civility throughout the
election season.
ANSAA also called on media organisations and advertising
practitioners to support efforts aimed at ensuring a clean, orderly, and
professional campaign environment in Anambra State.
A structured path into the 2027 election season
With these new rules, ANSAA has positioned itself as a
central regulator in shaping how political messages will appear across Anambra
ahead of 2027.
The agency insists that its mandate—established to regulate
signage, protect public spaces, and maintain environmental aesthetics—is
critical to ensuring that political competition does not descend into visual
disorder or public inconvenience.
As the political season gradually gathers momentum, the
message from Awka is clear: campaigns are welcome, but only under structure,
order, and strict compliance.
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