Enugu Warns Politicians Against Unauthorised Campaign Posters Ahead of Elections

The Enugu State Government has warned political parties, candidates and their supporters against displaying campaign posters and other promotional materials without obtaining the required approval from the Enugu State Structures for Signage and Advertisement Agency (ENSSAA).

The warning comes as political activities intensify ahead of the 2026 and 2027 elections. ENSSAA said political parties and candidates are expected to comply with the state’s rules governing outdoor advertising and campaign materials, including posters, banners, billboards and other forms of visual promotion.

The agency said the regulations are intended to prevent indiscriminate placement of campaign materials, protect public infrastructure and reduce visual pollution across Enugu’s 17 local government areas. It also warned that unauthorised campaign materials could be removed and that violators may face legal sanctions.

ENSSAA General Manager Francis Aninwike said parties and candidates must obtain the appropriate campaign permit before deploying visual campaign materials. The agency has also stated that billboard and campaign structures must be handled by practitioners licensed by the Advertising Regulatory Council of Nigeria (ARCON).

The state’s position is not limited to posters. The guidelines announced by ENSSAA cover a broader range of campaign promotion, including banners, branded vehicles, T-shirts, caps, handbills, buntings, street campaigns and rallies. The agency has warned political actors against erecting structures or displaying promotional materials without following the prescribed process.

ENSSAA has also cautioned politicians and their supporters against destroying or defacing the campaign materials of rival parties. It described such conduct as undemocratic and said those responsible could face consequences under the law.

The warning is significant because Enugu's advertising rules have become part of a wider political dispute over campaign regulation. In February 2026, ENSSAA announced a mandatory ₦150 million advertising permit for political parties and candidates participating in the 2026 and 2027 elections. The agency said the fee was part of its regulatory framework for outdoor and visual campaigning.

The requirement has faced opposition. Several political parties subsequently challenged the policy in court, arguing that the state authorities lacked the constitutional power to impose the fee and regulate election campaigning in the manner prescribed. The legal challenge means that aspects of Enugu's campaign-advertising framework remain contested and should not be presented as an uncontested matter.

For politicians and supporters, the immediate message from the state is therefore clear: campaign activities must comply with applicable advertising rules, while disputes over the legality or scope of those rules are matters for the appropriate legal process.

The enforcement of campaign advertising regulations will also be important in determining whether the rules are applied consistently to governing and opposition parties. ENSSAA has said the guidelines will apply to all candidates and parties, including serving politicians, but the practical implementation of that assurance will be closely watched as political activity increases.