By Our Correspondent
A legal practitioner based in Anambra State, Dr. Jezie Ekejiuba, has described the Anambra State Signage & Advertisement Agency (ANSAA)’s directive to governorship candidates in the state to pay N50 million each for campaign permits for posters, banners, and billboards as “illegal and unconstitutional”.
According to Dr. Ekejiuba, the directive contravenes the Fundamental Right to Freedom of Expression and Information guaranteed under the 1999 Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria.
“The ANSAA Law only gave ANSAA power to regulate Out-Door Signages/Signboards and Advertisements by professional Advertising professionals and companies regulated by Advertising Regulatory Council of Nigeria (ARCON) and not to engage in politically motivated regulatory campaign permits,” Dr. Ekejiuba stated.
He further challenged ANSAA to publish the particular provisions of its law that gave it the power to regulate general elections in Anambra State, including the election to the Executive Office of Governor.
Ekejiuba also described as “laughable” the directive by the ANSAA MD/CEO, Odili Tony Ujubuonu, to all Governorship Candidates to pay the whopping sum of N50 million to the agency’s coffers.
“By this, he is ordering that any party Governorship Candidate that cannot afford the exorbitant amount should forget about campaigns for votes,” Dr. Ekejiuba said, adding, “Voters have the right to choose through knowledge of the candidates via election campaigns.”
The legal practitioner emphasized that candidates for elections and voters are entitled to freedom to enjoy their constitutional rights without any threats of inhibition or violation, which the ANSAA’s campaign permit requirement seems to impose.
The lawyer’s reaction comes barely a few months before the Anambra State governorship election slated for November 8, 2025.
