Ahead of the November 8 governorship election in Anambra State, several governorship candidates have begun complying with the N50 million campaign fee set by the state government before political parties could run outdoor adverts.
The Young Progressives Party (YPP) set the tone as the first political party to pay the fee to the Anambra State Signage and Advertisement Agency (ANSAA).
The payment, made last Friday at the ANSAA headquarters in Awka, was led by the party’s deputy governorship candidate, Uzu Okagbue. After the payment, Okagbue described the gesture as both symbolic and strategic, affirming the YPP’s readiness for the upcoming polls. “This payment is not just about compliance,” he said. “It is a declaration of intent—bold, structured, and uncompromising. It reflects our integrity, our respect for due process, and our disciplined approach to governance.”
Other candidates who have paid the fee include the Action Alliance (AA) candidate, Ozo Jeff Nweke, and the African Democratic Congress (ADC) candidate, John Nwosu. The Labour Party (LP) candidate, Chief George Muoghalu, also paid the fee, despite initial reservations about its legitimacy.
After making the payment on Chief Nwosu’s behalf, the ADC state chairman, Comrade Anthony Obianyo, said, “We decided to pay the N50 million campaign levy because we don’t want anything that will disturb our campaigns.” Chief John Nwosu is the second governorship candidate to pay the N50 million fee.
Nweke, who is the fourth contestant to pay the fee, despite faulting it as an illegal fee, stated that with the latest development, his campaign materials would be visible across the 326 electoral wards of the state and beyond.
Meanwhile, the incumbent governor, Prof. Chukwuma Soludo, and his party, APGA, have faced criticism for delaying to pay the fee despite being the ruling party. ,
Also, Prince Nicholas Ukachukwu, the candidate of APC , the major opposition party in Anambra State, is yet to comply with the N50 million directive.
The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has expressed concerns that the fee violates Section 22 of the Electoral Act and has promised to work with relevant stakeholders to address the issue.
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