Anambra Guber: Parties kick as Anambra govt demands N50m for campaign permit
Anambra Gov, Prof. Charles Soludo
Labour Party (LP) and the All Progressives Congress (APC) have strongly kicked against the demand by the Anambra state government for parties contesting the November 8, 2025 guber election in the state to obtain campaign permit with the sum of N50 million each.
Sixteen political parties are contesting the gubernatorial election in the state.
Tony Odili Ujubuonu, Managing Director and CEO of the Anambra State Signage and Advertisement Agency (ANSAA), speaking on the campaign permit, stated that it comes with a statutory fee of N50 million, payable directly into the state government account.
He explained that payment of the fee grants political parties the legal right to conduct campaign activities, including the use of posters, branded vehicles, public address systems, banners, flyers, T-shirts, caps, street rallies, and other promotional materials across the 21 local government areas in the state.
Furthermore, ANSAA emphasised that all campaign materials intended for outdoor display must be pre-approved by the Advertising Regulatory Council of Nigeria (ARCON) before they are posted.
The agency also issued a directive prohibiting individuals, political parties, or support groups from erecting billboards or advertising structures independently: “Only advertising practitioners registered and licensed by ARCON, a federal regulatory body, are authorized to erect and manage such structures within the state under the regulation and permission of ANSAA,” Ujubuonu added.
However, criticizing the move, both the APC and LP described the policy as oppressive and undemocratic.
Chief George Moghalu, LP candidate dismissed it outrightly, saying: “They are jokers, as far as I’m concerned. We want to see who will arrest people wearing campaign T-shirts and face caps, or someone driving a branded vehicle.”
Also speaking on the issue, Chief Bunty Onuigbo, Coordinator of the APC Elders Forum, described the policy as a tactical move designed to silence opposition voices in the state: “That’s exactly what they are trying to do to ensure that other parties cannot campaign, leaving only APGA on the field.”
He further questioned the transparency of the policy’s implementation, adding: “How do we confirm whether Governor Charles Soludo and APGA have paid the required fees? Is the agency transparent enough to show evidence of APGA’s payment, considering it is the ruling party?”
“They cannot suppress the voice of the people. These tactics won’t save APGA from losing the election,” he asserted.
Importantly, the N50 million fee is separate from the cost of actually mounting billboards, which remains a contractual arrangement between advertising companies and political parties.
