Anambra To Charge Presidential Candidates N50m for Campaign Permits

The Anambra State Government, through the Anambra State Signage and Advertisement Agency (ANSAA), has announced permit fees for political parties and candidates seeking to deploy campaign materials and conduct outdoor campaign activities ahead of the 2027 general elections.

Under the new guidelines, presidential candidates will pay N50 million for outdoor campaign permits, while senatorial candidates are expected to pay N20 million.

The disclosure was made on Friday during a press briefing at the agency’s headquarters in Awka by the Assistant General Manager of ANSAA, Chika Ngobili.

Ngobili said the briefing became necessary to inform political parties and candidates about the guidelines governing outdoor promotions and visual campaign activities for the forthcoming elections.

According to him, House of Representatives candidates will pay N5 million, candidates for the Anambra State House of Assembly will pay N1.5 million, local government chairmanship candidates will pay N2.5 million, while councillorship candidates will pay N100,000 before commencing outdoor campaigns in the state.

He explained that the permits would cover campaign materials and activities such as posters, public address systems, branded vehicles, banners, fliers, buntings, T shirts, caps, street storms, campaign booths, rallies, and other related promotional materials within approved locations across the state.

“The guidelines were issued in line with the regulatory framework governing political campaign activities in Anambra State and ahead of the official lifting of the ban on campaigns by the Independent National Electoral Commission,” he said.

Ngobili stated that ANSAA is legally empowered to issue permits and licences for the deployment of signage and advertisements, regulate environmental aesthetics, protect public infrastructure, and collect revenue on behalf of the state government.

According to him, the permit system was introduced to ensure orderliness, prevent visual pollution, protect public infrastructure, maintain professional standards, guarantee fairness in access to advertising spaces, and ensure proper coordination of campaign related outdoor activities across the state.

He added that all campaign materials intended for outdoor display by political parties, candidates, support groups, advertising agencies, and practitioners must first be vetted and approved by the Advertising Regulatory Council of Nigeria before deployment.

The agency also warned political actors against destroying or defacing opponents’ campaign materials.

“We hereby formally notify all political parties and candidates participating in the 2027 general elections in Anambra State of the mandatory requirement to obtain campaign permits from ANSAA before commencing campaign activities involving outdoor visual promotions, rallies, branded materials, public address systems, and other promotional activities,” Ngobili said.

He appealed to political parties, candidates, and their supporters to respect the rights of others using advertising and visual promotion spaces across the state.

“Destroying, removing, or defacing campaign materials belonging to opponents is unlawful and contrary to the principles of peaceful democratic engagement,” he added.

Ngobili further warned that no political party, candidate, individual, or support group would be allowed to erect billboards or advertisement structures anywhere in the state except through duly registered and licensed advertising practitioners recognised by ARCON and authorised by ANSAA.

He also cautioned against indiscriminate pasting of posters on public buildings, road signs, bridges, flyovers, drainage channels, public monuments, utility installations, schools, hospitals, and other prohibited locations.

According to him, ANSAA enforcement teams will monitor compliance throughout the campaign period, while violators of the guidelines will face sanctions in line with the laws of Anambra State.

Ngobili urged political stakeholders to approach the electioneering process peacefully and responsibly, stressing that elections should not be treated as a “do or die affair.”

He also called on journalists and media practitioners to support the agency in ensuring a peaceful, professional, and orderly campaign environment across the state.

The Independent National Electoral Commission is expected to release the official timetable and guidelines for the 2027 general elections, which will usher in new administrations at the federal and state levels.