Anifowose Samson
The African Democratic Congress (ADC) has threatened legal action against the Anambra State Government over the imposition of a N50 million campaign permit fee for the upcoming November 8 governorship election.
The Anambra State Signage and Advertising Agency (ANSAA) had announced that all governorship candidates must pay the amount to obtain a campaign permit, which allows them to use promotional materials such as posters, branded vehicles, and other advertisements.
Reacting to the development, the ADC described the policy as a deliberate move to suppress opposition parties and hinder free democratic participation. The state chairman of the ADC, Patrick Obianyo, while addressing the media on Thursday in Awka, said the directive was unjust and would be challenged in court.
“If the state government refuses 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,” he said.
Obianyo also expressed shock that such a policy is being introduced by Governor Chukwuma Soludo, who did not pay such fees when he contested in 2021.
“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?” he added.
Obianyo insisted that the ADC was financially capable but would not comply with what he termed an unconstitutional and undemocratic order. He concluded, “We are saying no to such. We are capable of paying, but it is wrong, unconstitutional and undemocratic, and we are rejecting it.”
