2023: Anambra government threatens to remove campaign billboards

The Anambra State government has threatened to deface the campaign materials of all political parties in the state for non-payment of certain display fees.

Managing director of signage and advertising agency Anambra, Tony Ujubuonu, revealed this in a statement on Sunday.

Mr. Ujubuonu said candidates from all political parties were given a "two-week pardon" to pay for their campaign posters and billboards in the state.

"Through this communiqué, all candidates of political parties in the next general elections are asked to ensure that those managing their campaigns have made payments to the government to prevent ANSAA from defacing their campaign materials. campaign.

"The agency has also granted a two-week pardon (for applicants) to make such payments or face legal action," he said.

The ANSAA boss said he has written to all outdoor advertising practitioners in the state to revalidate and register all of their billboards asking the owners of the campaigns on them to pay to avoid to disfigure the material.

He said the "grace period" would expire on December 5, after which an execution would "immediately" follow.

The chief executive said the agency is aware of some political party candidates erecting billboards "on their own in ignorance" with no payment due.

“The agency wants to state that this is not only wrong but illegal and that any such billboard would be taken down without notice, the structure permanently seized and put up for auction,” Mr. Ujubuonu.

He stressed that politicians who fail to make the payments will face “immediate” legal action.

The Governor of Anambra State, Charles Soludo, is a member of the All Progressives Grand Alliance.

There will be no gubernatorial election in Anambra in 2023 as Mr. Soludo was only sworn in in March.

However, all other elections would be held in the state.

The latest development comes days after Mr Soludo ranted against Peter Obi, the Labor Party presidential candidate.

Mr. Obi, a former governor of Anambra State, is a leading candidate in the 2023 presidential election.

The other main candidates are Atiku Abubakar of the People's Democratic Party and Bola Tinubu of the All Progressives Congress.

READ ALSO: 2023: INEC warns states against charging exorbitant prices for posters and billboards

In addition to presidential candidates, other candidates running for the 2023 elections would be affected.

Background

The Anambra State government had said in August that it would review campaign materials from all political parties before they were shared in the state.

The government has also said that campaign sponsors will be required to pay certain fees to the government, depending on the office the campaign is being run for and the nature of the material.

Senate candidates, for example, would pay 7 million naira, while candidates for the House of Representatives would pay 5 million naira to put up their campaign posters in the state.

State assembly candidates are expected to pay N1 million for the same purpose.

Government said costs for outdoor media and mobile advertising are set at N100,000 for 48-sheet billboards, N500,000 for spectacular billboards, N500,000 for gantry displays, N100,000 for irregularly shaped display panels, N50,000 for brand vehicle and N5,000 for rear tricycle brand.

He banned the use of posters on bridges and road markings and also announced a ban on campaign posters on lampposts, roundabouts and other public buildings.

No candidate from any political party, however, reacted to the government's decision, approximately three months later.

Support the integrity and credibility journalism of PREMIUM TIMES Good journalism costs a lot of money. However, good...