By LUCY OSUIZIGBO-OKECHUKWU

The Anambra State Signage and Advertising Agency (ANSAA) says presidential candidates participating in the 2027 General Elections in the state will pay N50 million as campaign permit fee for out-of-home promotions and visual campaign activities.

Mr Chika Ngobili, Assistant General Manager of ANSAA, disclosed this on Friday in Awka during a news conference on behalf of the management of the agency.

Ngobili said senatorial candidates would pay N20 million, House of Representatives candidates N5 million and State House of Assembly candidates N1.5 million.

He added that local government chairmanship candidates would pay N2.5 million, while councillorship candidates would pay N100,000.

According to him, all political parties and candidates are required to obtain campaign permits from ANSAA before commencing any out-of-home promotional activities in the state.

He said the permit would cover campaign activities involving posters, public address systems, branded vehicles, banners, fliers, buntings, T-shirts, caps, street storms, campaign booths, rallies and other outdoor promotional materials.

“The purpose of the permit is to ensure orderliness, prevent visual pollution, protect public infrastructure, maintain professional standards and guarantee fairness and equal access to advertising spaces across the state,” he said.

Ngobili explained that the guidelines were introduced to ensure a peaceful, orderly, safe and lawful campaign environment ahead of the 2027 General Elections.

He commended political parties and aspirants for the peaceful conduct of their internal processes and urged them to sustain the atmosphere of peace and civility throughout the campaign period.

The ANSAA official said all campaign materials intended for outdoor display should be vetted and approved by the Advertising Regulatory Council of Nigeria (ARCON), before deployment.

He warned against the destruction, removal or defacing of campaign materials belonging to opponents, describing such actions as unlawful and contrary to democratic principles.

Ngobili further stated that no political party, candidate or support group was permitted to erect billboards or advertisement structures except through duly registered and licensed advertising practitioners recognised by ARCON and authorised by ANSAA.

He advised political parties and candidates to avoid indiscriminate pasting of posters on public buildings, bridges, road signs, flyovers, drainage channels, public monuments, schools and hospitals.

According to him, ANSAA enforcement teams will monitor compliance throughout the campaign period and sanction violators in line with the laws of Anambra.

Ngobili urged candidates, political parties and supporters to conduct themselves peacefully and responsibly, stressing that elections should not be treated as a “do-or-die affair.” (NAN)