Anambra Govt Slammed N50 Million Campaign Fees On Political Parties

By Suleiman Anyalewechi

Each of the 16 Political Parties that will be participating in the November 8, 2025,  gubernatorial election in Anambra State are to cough out a whopping sum of N50 million as a pre-condition to indulge in any outdoor campaigns ,the state signage authorities has stated.

At a Media briefing in Awka on Wednesday June 11, 2025,Tony Ujubuonu, head of the Anambra state Signage and Advertising Agency, ANSAA, informed that the payment will allow the parties to post posters, mount billboards and drive around party branded vehicles, wear vests and other campaign materials.

According to Ujubuonu, all the parties, including the ruling party in the state, All Progressive Grand Alliance, APGA, will  pay the mandatory signage fees before being allowed to access or enjoy any outdoor campaigns.

He dismissed insinuations that the seemingly high fees is targeted at stifling  opposition parties, insisting that it is part of revenue generation for the State.

“The permit comes with a statutory fee of Fifty Million Naira ( N50,000,000) only ,payable to the Anambra State Government account.

“This campaign fee grants the parties the right to deploy their campaign materials and activities using posters, public address system, branded vehicles, banners  fliers, bunting, t-shirts,  caps ,street storms ,rallies ,and sundry in locations across the cities ,villages and communities in the 21 Local Government Areas of the state.

“What we have done is to maintain professional standards in the use of public advertising. This permit is to ensure orderliness, prevent visual pollution  and create a level playing ground”, the ANSAA Managing Director stated .

Ujubuonu noted that the agency is acting within the confines and in tandem with its statutory mandate ,as stipulated by the law establishing it in 2010 .

However, most of the political parties appear not to be persuaded by the position of the agency, as they have geared towards challenging the imposition of the fees considered as outrageous and sinister.

The Labour Party, LP, All Progressive Congress APC ,and their candidates have signaled their intentions to call the bluff of the signage authorities.

“They ( ANSAA) are huge jokes as far as I am concerned .We want to see who will arrest people wearing campaign T-shirts ,and face caps ,or someone driving a branded party vehicle”, Chief George Moghalu quipped .

According to the Independent Electoral Commission INEC ,time table for the polls,political parties campaign  commenced on Wednesday June 11 ,2025.