Ahead of the November 8 governorship election in Anambra State, political parties presenting candidates have shunned the mandatory N50 million imposed on them by the Anambra State Signage and Advertising Agency (ANSAA), as only five parties have complied with the directive, ANSAA Managing Director of the organisation, Mr Tony Ujubuonu, has revealed.

There are sixteen parties that are contesting for the top position in the state.

But the five parties that have paid are: Young Progressives Party (YPP), which paid on June 24, 2025, African Democratic Congress (ADC) – June 26, 2025, Labour Party (LP) – June 27, 2025, Action Alliance (AA) – June 27, 2025 and All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA) – July 2, 2025.

Ujubuonu acknowledged that some of the political parties have opted for alternative campaign platforms such as social media, Radio or Television to avoid breaching the established regulations.

He said that the approach by the affected political parties is acceptable to the Agency, provided it does not violate the out-of-home advertising laws in Anambra State.

He, however, lamented an incident at Nri in Anaocha Local Government Area, where some members of All Progressives Congress (APC) allegedly attacked the enforcement team of ANSAA for pulling down the party’s billboards in the community, which is the hometown of the deputy governorship candidate of APC.

Head of the enforcement team, Chika Ngobili, narrated their experience at Nri.

“On 1st of August, we went on enforcement and at Nri, we saw some APC campaign materials on unauthorized billboards even when they have not paid their campaign fee. We had no choice than to legally remove them.

“As we were doing our work, they descended on us, asking us all manner of questions. I personally told them that we came from ANSAA and that the reason we went for the enforcement was because APC has not paid the signage fee.

“The police officers present supported them and even said that every party has the right to mount their billboards in any part of the state unmolested. I told them that the reason we were carrying out the enforcement was because they have not paid for their campaign permit.

“They also collected our phones, beat us up and attempted to collect the car key from us, which I refused. They threatened to burn us and the vehicle down. In order to save our lives, we had no choice but to hang back the campaign materials.so that we couldt live.

“APC is a highly respected political party that has given our country a highly respected president who is both progressive and law-abiding.

“We are surprised that in Anambra State, the party has fallen into the hands of brigands and deviants who think that civility is a culture for the weak and opt to employ violence and disregard for the law in carrying out their politicking,” he said.

Recall that ANSAA had on June 11, 2025, unveiled the official out-of-home advertising guidelines, including the stipulated campaign fee, which he said were designed to ensure orderliness, fairness, and aesthetic responsibility throughout the electioneering period.