The African Democratic Congress (ADC) Enugu State has kicked against the mandatory N150 million political campaign advertising permit fee imposed by Enugu State Structures for Signage and Advertising Agency (ENSSAA) on political parties and candidates participating in the 2026 local government election and 2027 general election.
Describing the campaign advertising permit fee as unlawful, unconstitutional and undemocratic, the opposition party accused the ruling All Progressive Congress (APC) in Enugu State of inventing the fee to shut out the opposition parties from contesting the coming elections in the state.
According to Enugu ADC, the imposition of the humongous campaign permit fee on political parties and candidates is an indication that Governor Peter Mba and the APC are afraid of a free and fair contest and hence, have resorted to all kinds of “undemocratic” tactics to frustrate their potential opponents.
The imposition of the N150 million political campaign advertising permit fee was announced by the General Manager (GM) of ENSSAA, Mr. Francis Aninwike, through a statement released by Governor Peter Mba’s media office.
According to Aninwike, the directive is in line with the agency’s statutory mandate to regulate outdoor advertising and ensure environmental aesthetics across the 17 local government areas of the state.
The ENSSAA GM further explained that the fee would grant parties the right to deploy campaign materials, including banners, branded vehicles, T-shirts and handbills, as well as conduct street campaigns and rallies.
Reacting in a press release on Tuesday, Enugu ADC Media Team rejected the campaign advertising permit fee in its entirety, describing it as not only unlawful and unconstitutional, but also undemocratic.
According to the press release signed by Paul Anigbogu on behalf of Enugu ADC Media Team, the opposition party, while making reference to a statement by the Advertising Regulatory Council of Nigeria (ARCON), pointed out that advertising falls within the Second Schedule of the Exclusive List in the 1999 Constitution (as amended), and hence, only the National Assembly can enact laws in this regard.
The party further accused Enugu State Government of trying to usurp the powers of the federal government by imposing advertising the “illegal” advertising permit fee, in total contravention of the Constitution of Nigeria.
Enugu ADC threatened to head to court to challenge the imposition of the humongous fee on political parties and candidates, if the APC led Government in Enugu State fails to rescind the decision.
The press release read in part: “In a statement dated February 13, 2026, ARCON made it clear that state signage and advertising agencies are alien to the Nigerian Constitution, and such powers do not fall within the legislative remit of a state. The statement particularly flagged Ondo and Enugu states.
“The council also maintained that it is not within state signage and/or advertising agency’s jurisdiction, to request for, receive or approve any advertisement (political or otherwise), before exposure.
“The council enjoined and cautioned state signage agencies to tread with caution and desist from such directives that could usurp the oversight responsibility of the federal government, as well as create bottlenecks, as we approach the 2027 general elections campaign and voter education.
“Unfortunately, not up to two weeks after ARCON, the body regulating advertising in Nigeria issued this statement, Enugu State Government through the signage agency is imposing N150 million campaign permit fee on political parties and candidates. Therefore, we totally reject this fee and will not hesitate to challenge it in court if the state government fails to rescind the illegal and unconstitutional financial obstruction placed on the way of political parties and candidates vying for local government election and general elections in Enugu State.”
Speaking further, Enugu ADC accused Governor Mba and the the ruling APC government in Enugu State of adopting all kinds of undemocratic practices to intimidate and harass the opposition parties ahead of the forthcoming council election and general election.
It warned that placing financial encumbrances on the way of the opposition parties would skew elections in favour of the ruling party, which has state funds at its disposal and thus, remove the vital element of competition in the elections, foisting a fait accompli on the electorate.
Enugu ADC maintained that the Enugu State Independent Electoral Commission (ENSIEC) and the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) are the bodies statutory empowered to regulate campaigns and all other activities involved in the conduct of local government election and general elections, respectively, in the state, and ENSSAA or any other agency.
The party vowed to adopt all lawful means, including legal action where and when necessary, to stop the impunity of the state government and ensure that the people of Enugu are allowed to choose their leaders in a free and fair atmosphere, devoid of any form of intimidation or harassment.