2025: Anambra govt rakes N250m from advertising, as parties adopt social media campaigns

 
By Okechukwu Onuegbu

Anambra Signage and Advertisement Agency (ANSAA), a government out-of-home advertising agency, on Tuesday, confirmed that it has raked a total sum of N250,000,000 from five political parties campaigning for the 2025 November 8 governorship poll.

The Managing Director/Chief Executive Officer, ANSAA, Mr Tony Ujubuonu, who stated this at a press conference in Awka, explained that these the license fees paid by the five political parties as guidelines issued that all contestants or their parties must obtain a license of N50,000,000 each before authorization to run out-of-home advertising.

According to him, 5 out of the 16 registered political parties participating in the election have so far complied with the guidelines and included the Young Progressive Party (YPP) which paid on June 24, African Democratic Congress (ADC) paid on June 26, Labour Party (LP) paid on June 27, Action Alliance (AA) paid on June 27, and All Progressive Grand Alliance (APGA) paid on July 2, 2025.

"We also acknowledge that some of the remaining political parties have opted for alternative campaign platforms such as social media, radio or television to avoid breaching the established regulations. This approach is acceptable, provided it does not violate the out-of-home advertising laws in Anambra State," he added.

He, however, regretted that one political party "has deliberately violated the law. Despite refusing to obtain the mandatory campaign permit, they have proceeded to engage in unauthorized promotional activities; erecting posters, branding vehicles, hoisting banners, organizing filled with promotional items bearing party names and logos, and even installing unapproved billboards at irregular sites without registered practitioners and due vetting from the Advertising Regulatory Council of Nigeria."

Continuing, he alleged that, "Most troubling is a recent incident in Nri, Anaocha LGA where this political party resorted to violence to obstruct an official ANSAA team on lawful assignment. Prior to this, the party had been issued two demand notices within a period of two months and with a two-week compliance window, followed by a legal reminder with an additional one-week timeline. All were ignored.

"On August 1, 2025, after the expiration of our last leash of kindness and amidst the altercation at Nri, the party suddenly rushed in a backdated letter to our office, claiming a dispute over the same campaign fee that other political parties had already paid -clearly an attempt to delay compliance and distract from their unlawful actions. The letter was received but because it came after our grace period, we could do nothing about it.

"Regarding the assault of our staff at Nri, ANSAA has formally reported the incident to the Nigeria police and will continue to take all lawful steps necessary to uphold the integrity of our regulatory mandate. Let me assure all political parties that have decided to obey the law by full compliance that ANSAA will do everything within the law to ensure that their cooperation with the agency is not misplaced.

"All Progressive Congress (APC) is a highly respected political party that has given our country a highly respected president who is both progressive and law abiding. We are surprised that in Anambra State, the party has fallen into the hands of brigands and deviants who think that civility is a culture for the weak and opt to employ violence and disregard for the law in carrying out their politicking.

"We strongly urge Ndi Anambra and the general public to disregard the disinformation, truth-flipping and narrative construction being circulated by this political party. It is important that we collectively insist on a level playing field where only law abiding parties and candidates are considered credible choices in the November gubernatorial polls.

"We call on the press and all well meaning citizens to bear witness: ANSAA has emplored every civil and administrative channel to engage this political party. We are now fully within our legal rights to enforce compliance, and we shall do so with the professionalism that our agency is known for," he added

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