The Advertising Regulatory Council of Nigeria (ARCON) has warned politicians, political parties, campaign organisations, support groups, advertising agencies and media owners against exposing political advertisements without prior approval from the Advertising Standards Panel (ASP).
The council issued the warning as political campaign activities begin to gather momentum ahead of the 2027 general elections, stressing the need for all political advertising and marketing communications to comply with the Nigerian Advertising Law and other relevant laws.
In a statement signed by the Director-General of ARCON, Dr. Olalekan Fadolapo, the council expressed concern over the exposure of unapproved advertisements, some of which it said had violated religious and ethnic guidelines and provisions of the Nigerian Code of Advertising.
He said: “As political campaign activities have commenced in earnest towards the 2027 general election, politicians, political parties, advertisement agencies, political support groups and stakeholders are enjoined to exercise caution and ensure that all advertising, advertisement and marketing communication activities are done in alignment with the Nigerian Advertising Law and other relevant extant laws.”
ARCON further reminded political actors and media stakeholders that exposing unapproved advertisements on traditional and/or online media platforms without prior approval of the Advertising Standards Panel constitutes an offence under Section 34(3) of the Advertising Regulatory Council of Nigeria Act No. 23 of 2022.
The council has therefore directed all political parties, elective political office aspirants, political campaign organisations, advertising agencies and media owners to immediately cease and desist from exposing advertisements without the required prior approval.
According to Fadolapo, “All political parties, elective political office aspirants, political campaign organisations, advertisement agencies and media owners are hereby advised to immediately cease and desist from exposing advertisements without prior approval of the Advertising Standards Panel as required by the ARCON Act.”
He disclosed that, in collaboration with relevant law enforcement agencies, the council will commence a nationwide enforcement exercise aimed at removing political advertisements for which the required prior approval was not obtained before exposure.
ARCON also warned that it will pursue prosecution against individuals and corporate bodies involved in sponsoring, causing to be exposed, exposing or benefiting from political advertising, advertisement or marketing communication without the approval of the Advertising Standards Panel.
“ARCON will further seek to prosecute any person, and/or body corporate who sponsors, causes to be exposed, exposes or takes benefit of political advertising, advertisement or marketing communication without approval of the Advertising Standards Panel,” Fadolapo said.
The regulatory body urged all stakeholders in the political advertising ecosystem to exercise responsibility and ensure that campaign communications comply with applicable advertising regulations, particularly as political activities intensify ahead of the 2027 elections.
