Political parties and candidates preparing for the 2026 and 2027 local, state and federal elections in Enugu State will be required to pay a mandatory ₦150 million advertising permit fee before embarking on any visual campaign across the state.
The directive was announced by the General Manager of the Enugu State Structures for Signage and Advertisement Agency (ENSSAA), Mr. Francis Aninwike, during a management meeting held Monday at the agency’s headquarters in the New State Secretariat Complex, GRA, Enugu.
Addressing officials on the theme, “Outdoor Promotion and Visual Campaign Guidelines for 2026 and 2027 General Elections,” Aninwike said the measure was in line with the agency’s statutory responsibility to regulate outdoor advertising and ensure orderliness, environmental aesthetics and lawful conduct of campaign activities across the state’s 17 local government 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 ₦150 million, payable to the Enugu State Government account,” he said.
According to him, the permit authorises parties and candidates to deploy campaign materials and undertake visual promotions in both urban and rural communities. These include rallies, banners, branded vehicles, T-shirts, caps, handbills, buntings and other forms of street campaigns.
He explained that the policy is designed to prevent visual pollution, protect public infrastructure, maintain professional standards in outdoor advertising and ensure a level playing field for all contestants.
Aninwike warned that any party or candidate that fails to comply with the directive would have its 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) are permitted to erect and manage billboards or campaign structures in 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 also cautioned against defacing or destroying opponents’ campaign materials, describing such actions as undemocratic and punishable under the law.
Urging stakeholders to approach the electoral season responsibly, Aninwike stressed that elections should not be seen as a “do-or-die affair,” but as a democratic process through which citizens exercise their civic rights.
Responding to concerns about potential selective enforcement, he insisted that the guidelines would apply uniformly to all candidates and political parties, including incumbents. He added that Governor Peter Ndubuisi Mbah has consistently complied with advertising regulations in his campaign and official promotional activities.
The ENSSAA boss wished political parties well as they prepare for the coming elections and reaffirmed the agency’s commitment to maintaining order, professionalism and environmental standards in outdoor advertising throughout Enugu State.
