By Izunna Okafor, Awka
The Anambra State Signage and Advertisement Agency (ANSAA) has officially unveiled the guidelines and approved permit fees for outdoor political campaigns and visual promotional activities ahead of the 2027 general elections in Anambra State.
The agency announced that presidential candidates seeking to campaign in the state through outdoor advertisements and related promotional activities would pay a permit fee of ₦50 million, while senatorial candidates would pay ₦20 million.
ANSAA made the announcement during a press briefing held at the Agency’s headquarters in Awka on Friday, where it also called on political parties, candidates, support groups and advertising practitioners to comply strictly with the laid-down regulations guiding campaign promotions within the state.
The speech of the press conference was read by the Assistant General Manager of ANSAA, Engr. Chika Ngobili, who addressed journalists alongside top management staff of the agency, including the Executive Assistant to the Managing Director and Special Project Manager, Dr. Obinna Efobi; Out-of-Homes Manager, Mr. Innocent Adike; Out-of-Homes Support and Road Furniture Manager, Mr. Eruchalu Chijioke; Mobile Asset Manager, Mr. Obi Chike; Strategy and Planning Manager, Mr. Samuel Ilogu; and ANSAA Media Manager/P.R.O., MacDonald Ifeme.
Speaking during the briefing, the agency commended political parties and aspirants for the peaceful conduct of their internal political activities so far, while expressing optimism that the atmosphere of maturity, orderliness and civility would be sustained throughout the electioneering period.
ANSAA explained that the briefing became necessary ahead of the anticipated lifting of the ban on political campaigns by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), noting that the guidelines were designed to ensure a peaceful, safe, orderly and professionally regulated campaign environment across Anambra State.
The agency recalled that it was established by the Anambra State Government in 2010 to regulate outdoor advertising structures, control signage and advertisement activities, protect public infrastructure, maintain environmental aesthetics and generate lawful revenues for the state government.
According to the agency, all political parties and candidates intending to embark on outdoor campaign activities in Anambra State must first obtain the mandatory campaign permits from ANSAA before deploying campaign materials or commencing any form of outdoor promotional activity.
The agency explained that the permits would cover the use of posters, branded vehicles, banners, public address systems, fliers, buntings, campaign booths, rallies, T-shirts, caps, street storms and other campaign-related promotional materials within approved locations across the state.
Aside the ₦50 million approved for presidential candidates and ₦20 million for senatorial candidates, the agency disclosed that House of Representatives candidates would pay ₦5 million, while candidates for the Anambra State House of Assembly would pay ₦1.5 million.
Similarly, ahead of the local government election in the State, scheduled for August 29th, the agency said local government chairmanship candidates would pay ₦2.5 million, while councillorship candidates would pay ₦100,000 respectively for outdoor campaigns.
ANSAA also stressed that all campaign materials intended for outdoor display must first be vetted and approved by the Advertising Regulatory Council of Nigeria (ARCON) before deployment.
The agency further warned against the indiscriminate erection of billboards and advertisement structures by political parties, candidates or support groups, emphasizing that such structures can only be handled through duly registered advertising practitioners recognized by ARCON and authorized by ANSAA.
It equally cautioned politicians and their supporters against the defacing, destruction or removal of opponents’ campaign materials, describing such acts as unlawful and contrary to the spirit of democratic engagement.
The agency also prohibited indiscriminate pasting of posters on public buildings, bridges, flyovers, drainage channels, road signs, utility installations, schools, hospitals and other restricted public facilities across the state.
ANSAA disclosed that its enforcement teams would actively monitor compliance throughout the campaign period and sanction violators in accordance with the laws of Anambra State.
The agency further urged political actors to approach the 2027 elections as a democratic process rather than a do-or-die affair, while calling on candidates, supporters and the media to uphold peace, mutual respect and responsible conduct throughout the campaign season.
The briefing also featured an interactive question-and-answer session during which journalists sought clarifications on issues relating to permit fees, level playing grounds for candidates, enforcement procedures and compliance mechanisms, with members of the ANSAA management team providing explanations on the agency’s regulatory framework and operational expectations.
