With the November 8, 2025 governorship election drawing near, the Anambra State Signage and Advertisement Agency has intensified its crackdown on political parties yet to comply with the mandatory N50 million campaign permit fee.
The fee, imposed by ANSAA, grants political parties the right to erect billboards, posters, brand vehicles, hoist banners, and engage in other outdoor campaign activities across the state.
Addressing journalists on Tuesday at the agency’s headquarters in Awka, ANSAA Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer, Tony Ujubuonu, revealed that only five out of the 16 registered political parties participating in the election have complied with the fee.
According to him, the compliant parties include the Young Progressives Party, African Democratic Congress, Action Alliance, Labour Party, and the All Progressives Grand Alliance, with APGA being the most recent to fulfil the requirement on July 2.
Ujubuonu, however, criticised several others, singling out one major party, which he did not name, for persistently violating ANSAA regulations by engaging in unauthorised campaign activities despite repeated warnings.
“Unfortunately, some of these parties have deliberately violated the law. Despite refusing to obtain the mandatory campaign permit, they have proceeded to engage in unauthorised promotional activities—erecting posters, branding vehicles, hoisting banners, organising rallies filled with promotional items bearing party names and logos, and even installing unapproved billboards at irregular sites without proper vetting from the Advertising Regulatory Council of Nigeria (ARCON),” he said.
He described an incident involving ANSAA officials at Nri community in Aniocha Local Government Area, where enforcement officers were allegedly obstructed and assaulted by supporters of the unnamed party.
“One of the major political parties resorted to violence and obstructed our officials. Before the incident, the party had been served two demand notices within two months, each with a two-week compliance window, followed by a legal reminder with an additional one-week extension,” Ujubuonu said.
He disclosed that after the grace period expired, the party hurriedly submitted a backdated letter on August 1 claiming a dispute over the same fee—an action the agency interpreted as an attempt to delay enforcement.
“The letter was received, but since it came after our grace period, there was nothing we could do,” he added.
Ujubuonu confirmed that the agency had formally reported the assault to the police and vowed to uphold the integrity of ANSAA’s mandate through all lawful means.
Ujubuonu emphasised the need for a level playing field where only law-abiding parties are recognised as credible contenders in the forthcoming election.
“We call on the press and all well-meaning citizens to bear witness: ANSAA has explored every civil and administrative channel.
“We are now fully within our legal rights to enforce compliance and shall do so with the professionalism our agency is known for,” he declared.
He noted that some other political parties have chosen alternative platforms such as social media, radio, and television to avoid breaching out-of-home advertising laws—a move the agency considers acceptable as long as it remains within legal boundaries.
Also speaking, ANSAA’s Assistant General Manager, Chika Ngobiri, recounted how his team narrowly escaped an attack by party supporters while enforcing the law in Nri.
