2025: LP, APC Kick as Anambra Government Demands N800 Million for Campaign Permits
Sixteen political parties contesting the November 8, 2025, gubernatorial election in Anambra State have been mandated to collectively pay a total of N800 million to the Anambra State Government as a prerequisite for obtaining permits to mount campaign billboards.
According to a breakdown of the directive, each political party is required to pay N50 million before being granted the license to begin any outdoor political campaign activities within the state.
This development has already sparked widespread controversy, with the Labour Party (LP) and the All Progressives Congress (APC) strongly criticizing the move, describing it as oppressive and undemocratic.
Reacting to the directive, Labour Party’s candidate, Chief George Moghalu, dismissed it outright, 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.
Speaking on the matter, Mr. Tony Odili Ujubuonu, Managing Director and CEO of the Anambra State Signage and Advertisement Agency (ANSAA), stated:
“The permit comes with a statutory fee of N50 million, payable directly into the Anambra 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 emphasized 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.
