The African Democratic Congress (ADC) has opposed the Anambra State government’s recent imposition of a N50 million fee for campaign advertisements related to the upcoming governorship elections set for November 8, 2025.
Party Chairman, Comrade Patrick Obianyo described the fee as unprecedented in Nigeria and criticised it as an attempt to intimidate opposition parties.
In a press briefing held on Thursday in Awka, Obianyo voiced outrage over the requirement, which covers a wide range of campaign materials, including posters, T-shirts, flyers, and vehicle.
Gubernatorial Campaigns: Anambra State Introduces N50m Permit Fee
He pointed out that Governor Chukwuma Soludo, the incumbent and candidate for the All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA), had successfully contested the governorship in 2021 without facing such exorbitant fees.
“This is unheard of. How can any political party be expected to pay N50 million for ordinary campaign materials like T-shirts, caps, and pamphlets? We are witnessing this for the first time in our political landscape.
“It seems the governor is not only jittery about the growing momentum of the opposition but is also attempting to stifle our democratic process,” he said.
Obianyo accused the state government of undemocratic practices, asserting that the ADC would not comply with the fee requirement.
Instead, he announced the party’s intention to pursue legal action to challenge the government’s decision, emphasising that they will fight against what he termed a tyrannical approach to governance.
“The ADC is prepared to take this matter to court. We cannot accept such an undemocratic stipulation. There was no meeting convened to discuss this; I, as the ADC chairman, was not informed of any such proceedings.
“It is crucial for the opposition to be afforded the same opportunities that the governor had when he contested previously,” he said.
Obianyo further challenged the claims made by the Anambra State Signage and Advertising Agency (ANSAA), which has publicly justified the fee as a permit for campaign activities.
He called on the agency to promptly withdraw the proposal, insisting that it was unjust and unacceptable.
“I have contacted the leadership of the Inter-Party Advisory Council (IPAC), and the chairperson stated they were unaware of any meeting where this fee was discussed. This situation cannot stand,” he stated, reiterating the ADC’s commitment to uphold democracy in Anambra State.
He further noted that the ADC was determined to leverage every available legal and constitutional avenue to oppose the imposition of the fee and ensure fair electoral practices.
Confidence Okwuchi