The Anambra State Government has introduced fresh rules for political campaigns ahead of the 2027 general elections, placing a ₦50 million permit fee on presidential aspirants seeking to campaign in the state.
The new directive was announced by the Anambra State Signage and Advertisement Agency (ANSAA), which said all candidates and political parties intending to display campaign materials or hold rallies across the state must first obtain official permits.
Under the framework released by the agency, presidential candidates will pay ₦50 million for campaign permits, while senatorial aspirants are expected to pay ₦20 million.
Candidates contesting for seats in the House of Representatives will pay ₦5 million, while chairmanship candidates will be charged ₦2.5 million. State House of Assembly aspirants are to pay ₦1.5 million, while councillorship candidates will pay ₦100,000.
Speaking during a press briefing in Awka, the Assistant General Manager of ANSAA, Chika Ngobili, said the regulations were introduced to ensure proper coordination of political campaigns and outdoor advertising activities ahead of the elections.
He explained that the permit would cover several campaign activities and materials, including posters, billboards, branded vehicles, banners, public address systems, campaign booths, fliers, branded clothing, rallies and street campaigns.
Ngobili said the agency was acting within its legal responsibility to regulate outdoor advertising and maintain order across the state.
According to him, the government also wants to prevent the uncontrolled defacing of public infrastructure during the election period.
“The guidelines were issued in line with the regulatory framework governing political campaign activities in Anambra State,” he stated.
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 receive approval from the Advertising Regulatory Council of Nigeria (ARCON) before they can be displayed publicly.
ANSAA also announced restrictions on where campaign materials can be placed.
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 allowed to erect billboards on their own, insisting that only practitioners registered with ARCON and licensed by ANSAA would be permitted to handle outdoor political advertisements in the state.
He also cautioned against the destruction or removal of opponents’ campaign materials, warning that enforcement teams would be deployed across the state to monitor compliance.
According to him, anyone found violating the regulations would face sanctions under existing state laws.
