By Vincent Ujumadu

The Anambra State Signage and Advertising Agency, ANSAA, has released fees to be paid by candidates of the various political parties for outdoor campaign activities, with the fee for the presidential candidates fixed at N50 million.

At a press conference in Awka where the Agency released details of the fees, senatorial candidates are to pay N20 million, House of Representatives -N5million, while House of Assembly candidates will pay N1.5 million.

Similarly, local government chairmanship candidates are to pay N2.5 million, while those vying for councillors are to pay N100,000.

There will be no governorship election in Anambra State as the state held its election in November last year, during which Professor Chukwuma Soludo was reelected.

Assistant General Manager of ANSAA, Mr Chuka Ngobili said the fees do no include the cost of billboards, which he added, will be determined by the Advertising Regulatory Practitioners of Nigeria who control such billboards.

According to Ngobili, the purpose of the permit is to ensure orderliness, prevent visual pollution, protect public infrastructure, maintain professional standards, guarantee fairness and equal access to advertising space, as well as ensure proper coordination of campaign-related outdoor activities across the state.

He said: “These permits grant candidates and political parties the right to deploy approved campaign materials and activities, including posters, public address systems, branded vehicles, banners, fliers, buntings, T-shirts, caps, street storms, campaign booths, rallies, and other related promotional materials within approved locations across the relevant electoral areas in Anambra State.

“We expect that all campaign materials intended for outdoor display by political parties, candidates, support groups, advertising agencies, and advertising practitioners must be vetted and approved by the Advertising Regulatory Council of Nigeria (ARCON) before deployment or display.

“ANSAA enforcement teams shall monitor compliance throughout the campaign period, and any individual, group, or organization found violating these guidelines shall be sanctioned in accordance with the laws of Anambra State.

“No individual, political party, candidate, or support group is permitted to erect billboards or advertisement structures in any part of Anambra State except through duly registered and licensed advertising practitioners recognized by the Advertising Regulatory Council of Nigeria (ARCON) and authorized by ANSAA.”

He stressed that on no account should political parties, their candidates and supporters mount campaign in any part of the state without first paying the approved fees, advising them that there are other avenues they could use to reach out to the people without using billboards, if they could not pay the prescribed fees.

He also warned political parties and candidates against indiscriminate pasting of posters on public buildings, road signs, bridges, flyovers, drainage channels, public monuments, utility installations, schools, hospitals, and other prohibited locations across the state, adding that those who contravene the directive would be surcharged.