As campaigns towards the 2027 general elections gather momentum, the Advertising Regulatory Council of Nigeria (ARCON) has said it would remove billboards not approved by the agency, while individuals or corporate bodies behind the installation of such billboards, will be prosecuted.

Giving the warning in a statement signed by its Director General, Dr. Lekan Fadolapo, on Monday, the apex regulatory body in the nation’s advertising sector, added that every campaign signages must be approved by the Advertising Standards Panel (ASP), as stated by the nation’s Advertising Law, before being exposed to the public.

It expressed concerns at the activities of some politicians, political parties, support groups, advertising agencies and media owners, who engaged in the exposure of unapproved adverts, some of which have been found to violate religious and ethical guidelines.

The agency, therefore, enjoined all actors in the nation’s political and advertising sectors to exercise caution and ensure that all advertising, advertisement and marketing communications activities align with the nation’s Advertising Law and other relevant extant laws.

It warned that the exposure of unapproved advertisements on the traditional and online media platforms without approval of the Advertising Standards Panel (ASP), constitutes an offence under Section 34(3) of the ARCON Act No 23 of 2022.

“All political parties, elective political office aspirants, political campaign organisations, advertisement agencies and media owners are hereby advised to immediately cease and desist from exposing advertisements without prior approval of the ASP as required by the ARCON Act,” the agency added. (Nigerian Tribune)