Anambra guber: APC kicks against N50m signage fee

From Aloysius Attah, Onitsha

As political parties begin campaigns for the November 8, 2025 governorship election in Anambra State, the state Signage and Advertisement Agency (ANSAA) has stated that each of the 16 political parties/candidates participating in the election are to pay N50,000,000 signage fee before displaying posters and other outdoor campaign materials.

Managing Director/Chief Executive Officer, ANSAA, Mr. Tony Ujubuonu, at a press briefing in Awka, said the N50 million is a statutory fee for outdoor advertising purposes, which grants the contestants the right to deploy campaign materials, such as posters and branded vehicles, among others.

Ujubuonu said political parties and support groups could make the one-off payment on behalf of each of the contestants, otherwise they would not be allowed to display their campaign materials in any part of the state.

According to him, the agency has duly informed all the political parties and their candidates, including Governor Chukwuma Soludo of the All Progressive Grand Alliance (APGA) and they would equally inform the public as soon as those involved comply accordingly.

“The purpose of this permit is to ensure orderliness, prevent visual pollution, create a level playing ground for all and maintain professional standards in the use of public advertising and visual promotion space and above all, to protect our public infrastructures.

“The permit comes with a statutory fee of N50, 000,000 only payable to the Anambra State Government’s account. This campaign fee grants the parties the right to deploy their campaign materials and activities using posters, public address systems, branded vehicles, banners, fliers, buntings, T-shirts, caps, street storms and rallies in locations across the cities, villages and communities,” he added.

Reacting to the development, Coordinator of the All Progressives Congress (APC) Elders’ Forum, Chief Bunty Onuigbo, described the directive as a tactical way of shutting out the voice of the opposition parties ahead of the election.

“They want only APGA to go for the campaigns. How do we confirm if Gov Soludo and APGA will pay? They cannot stop the voice of the masses,” he stated.