By ALEX ENEBELI

The Enugu State Government has fixed N150 million for mandatory advertising permits for political parties and candidates participating in the 2026 and 2027 local, state, and federal elections.

The General Manager, Enugu State Structures for Signage and Advertisement Agency (ENSSAA), Mr Francis Aninwike, disclosed this after a management meeting on Monday, at the agency’s headquarters, Enugu.

Speaking on the theme: “Outdoor Promotion and Visual Campaign Guidelines for 2026 and 2027 General Elections,” Aninwike said the directive was in line with ENSSAA’s statutory mandate to regulate outdoor advertising.

“It is also to ensure orderliness, environmental aesthetics, and lawful conduct of campaign activities across the state’s 17 local government areas,” he said.

He explained that the N150 million permit granted political parties and candidates the right to deploy campaign materials and engage in visual promotions.

This, he said, include rallies, banners, branded vehicles, T-shirts, caps, handbills, buntings, and street campaigns across both urban and rural areas.

“Every political party and candidate must obtain a campaign permit from ENSSAA before deploying any form of visual campaign or outdoor promotional materials.

“The statutory fee for the permit is N150 million, payable to the Enugu State Government account,” he said.

According to him, the permit was designed to prevent visual pollution; ensure a level playing field; maintain professional standards in outdoor advertising; and protect public infrastructure.

Aninwike warned that parties or candidates who failed to comply would have their campaign materials removed and could face legal sanctions.

He further clarified that only practitioners registered and licensed by the Advertising Regulatory Council of Nigeria (ARCON) were authorised to erect and manage billboards or campaign structures within the state.

“No individual, political party, or support group is permitted to erect billboards or advertisement structures in any part of Enugu State without going through licensed ARCON practitioners as permitted by ENSSAA,” he stated.

The agency’s boss also cautioned against defacing opponents’ campaign materials, describing such actions as undemocratic and punishable under the law.

He urged political parties and supporters to conduct campaigns responsibly.

He noted that elections should not be treated as a “do-or-die affair,” but as a democratic process that allows citizens to fulfill their civic obligations.

Aninwike dismissed allegations of possible selective enforcement, insisting that the guidelines would apply uniformly to all candidates and parties, including incumbents.

He added that Gov. Peter Mbah had consistently complied with advertising regulations in all his campaign and official promotional activities. (NAN)

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