N50m campaign fee: ADC threatens to sue Anambra Govt.
The African Democratic Congress (ADC) has threatened to take legal action against the Anambra State Government over a new policy requiring governorship candidates in the upcoming November 8 election to pay a ₦50 million campaign permit fee.
This directive was issued by the Anambra State Signage and Advertising Agency (ANSAA) on Wednesday. According to the agency, the fee is mandatory for candidates and their political parties to display campaign materials such as posters, billboards, branded vehicles, and other advertisements.
The ADC has strongly condemned the policy, describing it as oppressive, unconstitutional, and undemocratic. The party argues that the ₦50 million fee places an unfair financial burden on candidates, effectively limiting the democratic process to only those with significant resources. They insist the policy violates the right to political participation and freedom of expression as guaranteed by the Nigerian Constitution.
The party is currently exploring legal options to challenge the enforcement of the fee, stating that such a move undermines fair competition and could set a dangerous precedent for future elections.
This development has sparked broader concerns about the monetization of electoral processes, and it is likely that other opposition parties may join in opposing the policy.
It was reported that the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has approved 16 candidates, including the incumbent Governor Chukwuma Soludo, to contest in the upcoming governorship election in Anambra State.
In response, the African Democratic Congress (ADC) has raised strong objections to a new policy that requires political parties to pay a N50 million levy for campaign materials such as T-shirts, caps, and pamphlets.
The party’s state chairman, Patrick Obianyo, voiced the ADC’s concerns during a press briefing on Thursday in Awka. He described the policy as a deliberate attempt to weaken opposition parties and suppress democratic participation.
”If the state government refused to withdraw the plan, ADC would institute a legal action against it. ADC governorship candidate will not make the payment as it amounts to intimidation and act of stifling democracy and the oppositions.
“This is unheard of and unfortunately, a policy coming from the same Soludo who contested for governor in the year 2021 and never paid such money. How can a political party pay N50 million for ordinary T-shirt, cap and pamphlet?
“We are witnessing this for the first time in Anambra and one wouldn’t know why the governor decided to have himself associated with such policy.
“This is an indication that Gov. Soludo is afraid of the oppositions. We never heard of it. We are saying no to such. We are capable of paying, but it is wrong, unconstitutional and undemocratic, and we are rejecting it,” he said.
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