Mbah imposes N150m advertising fee for political campaigns in Enugu

The Peter Mbah administration in Enugu State has announced a mandatory ₦150 million advertising permit fee for all political parties and candidates intending to participate in the 2026 local government elections and the 2027 general elections in the state.

The General Manager of the Enugu State Structures for Signage and Advertisement Agency (ENSSAA), Mr. Francis Aninwike, disclosed the directive during a management meeting held at the agency’s headquarters in Enugu on Monday.

According to a statement issued by the media office of Governor Peter Mbah, the new policy is rooted in ENSSAA’s statutory responsibility to regulate outdoor advertising and maintain environmental aesthetics across the 17 local government areas of the state.

Aninwike explained that the ₦150 million fee would entitle political parties and candidates to obtain a campaign permit authorising the deployment of various campaign materials. These include banners, posters, branded vehicles, T-shirts, handbills, and other outdoor promotional items. The permit also covers the conduct of street campaigns and political rallies within the state.

Part of the statement read: “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.”

The ENSSAA boss said the measure was introduced to curb visual pollution, safeguard public infrastructure, and ensure professionalism during the electioneering period. He stressed that the agency remains committed to enforcing standards that will preserve the physical outlook of communities across the state.

Aninwike warned that any political party or candidate that fails to comply with the directive risks having their campaign materials removed. He added that defaulters may also face legal consequences in line with existing regulations.

He further clarified that only practitioners duly registered and licensed by the Advertising Regulatory Council of Nigeria (ARCON) are authorised to manage billboards and campaign structures in Enugu 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,” Aninwike stated.

Responding to concerns over potential bias or preferential treatment, the ENSSAA General Manager maintained that the guidelines would be implemented uniformly and without discrimination. He noted that the rules apply to all candidates, including those currently holding public office.

He added that Governor Mbah has consistently complied with the state’s advertising regulations in both his previous political activities and current official engagements.

The agency also urged political supporters to refrain from defacing or destroying the campaign materials of rival parties, describing such actions as undemocratic and punishable under the law.