The Labour Party (LP) candidate in the forthcoming November 8 Anambra State governorship election, George Moghalu, has described the ₦50 million campaign billboard fee imposed by the Anambra State Signage and Advertisement Agency (ANSAA) as outrageous, undemocratic, and an act of extortion.
In a statement issued by his campaign organisation, Moghalu said the fee is “a calculated attempt to muzzle opposition voices, entrench tyranny, and commercialise our democracy to serve the narrow interests of the ruling party.”
The statement, signed by the Director of Media and Publicity of the George Moghalu Campaign Organisation (GMCO), Dr. Ikenna Agu, stressed that no candidate should be coerced into paying such an “exorbitant and baseless sum” in order to reach the electorate.
“This fee is not only anti-democratic but also unconstitutional, as it seeks to arbitrarily restrict political participation to only the wealthy or those with access to state coffers,” Moghalu stated.
He accused the administration of Governor Chukwuma Soludo of weaponising state institutions to silence opposition and tilt the electoral playing field in favour of the ruling party.
“This amounts to state-sponsored political intimidation, and it will not stand.
“We are alarmed that at a time when Anambra people are yearning for open debates, robust dialogue, and the free flow of campaign messages from all candidates, the government is instead erecting financial barriers to free speech and fair campaigning.
“This illegal levy is a direct attack on our democracy and must be resisted by all well-meaning Anambrarians and lovers of freedom,” he added.
Moghalu declared that neither the governor nor his agents can use state power to stifle other candidates or eliminate democratic competition through financial restrictions.
“They cannot hold democracy hostage in Anambra State,” he said.
The LP candidate called for an immediate reversal of what he described as an oppressive directive, urging the Soludo administration to uphold democratic values by ensuring equal and affordable access to campaign infrastructure, as guaranteed by Nigeria’s electoral laws and constitution.
He also appealed to the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), the Advertising Regulatory Council of Nigeria (ARCON), civil society organisations, and the international community to intervene and hold the Soludo administration accountable for what he termed an abuse of power.
“We also urge other political parties and candidates not to be intimidated. The destiny of Anambra is greater than one man’s desire to cling to power through undemocratic means.
“We will continue to engage the people of Anambra with our message of hope, good governance, and development—whether or not we are granted permission by a repressive agency,” he stated.
