By Our Correspondent

There are strong indications that it is not yet celebration for political parties and their candidates’ who may have emerged victorious in their various political party primary elections as the Anambra State Signage and Advertisement Agency (ANSAA), Friday presented stringent financial condition for them to campaign for the 2027 general elections in the state.

In a press briefing in Awka, state capital, Friday, ANSSA warned that they should obtain mandatory campaign permits from the agency before commencing campaign activities involving out-of-door promotions, rallies, branded materials, public address systems and other outdoor promotion activities.

Sounding the note of warning, the Assistant General Manager of ANSAA, Engr Chika Ngobili, stated that the purpose is to ensure orderliness, prevent visual pollution, protect public infrastructure and maintain professional standards, guarantee fairness and equal access to advertising space, and ensure proper coordination of campaign-related outdoor activities across the state.

He presented approved permit fees for various political categories of elections as follows: N50m for Presidential candidates; N20m for Senatorial candidates; N5m for House of Representatives candidates; N1.5m for House of Assembly candidates; N2.5m for Chairmanship candidates and N100,000 for Councillorship candidates.

According to him, these permits grant candidates and political parties the right to deploy approved campaign materials and activities within approved locations across the relevant electoral areas in Anambra.

“We expect that all campaign materials intended for outdoor display by political parties, candidates and support groups, advertising agencies and advertising practitioners must be vetted and approved by the Advertising Regulatory Council of Nigeria (ARCON) before deployment or display.

“Please, be informed that no individual, political party, candidate or support group is expected to erect billboards or advertisement structures in any party of Anambra except through dully registered and licenced advertising practitioners recognized by ARCON and authorized by ANSAA.

“All political parties and candidates are therefore, strongly advised to work only with ARCON-registered practitioners and obtain the necessary approvals from ANSAA to avoid sanctions, removal of unauthorized materials, or other regulatory actions.

“ANSAA enforcement teams shall monitor compliance throughout the campaign period, and any individual, group or organization found violating these guidelines shall be sanctioned in accordance with laws of Anambra State,” he warned.

He appealed with political parties, candidates, their supporters and members of the public to be considerate of other users of advertising and visual promotion spaces across the state and refrain from destroying, removing or defacing campaign materials belonging to opponents.

Ngobili described such actions as unacceptable, unlawful, and contrary to the principles of peaceful democratic engagement.”

By Uthman-Baba Naseer,Minna

The people of Mokwa , Lavun and Edati federal constituency have been told to desist from unnecessary squabbles over the recent ADC primary election of Engr. Abubakar Takuma who was declared winner as candidate representing the constituency..

A statement issued by the concern Mokwa, Edati and Lavun local government stakeholders advise those who are aggrieved to take the result as an act of God and be more united and focus to achieve the success come 2027.

They also condemn in strong terms for disrespecting party leaders and stakeholders, particularly the governorship candidate of ADC,Dr Mohammed Kpautagi dragging him to their selfish interest simply because he did not support their ill gotten desires.

“This is an act of black mail,intimidation that will not urgur well for the progress and unity of the party, adding that it is dangerous to democracy and party unity.”

“Our focus now is not vendetta but to unite all the aggrieved group on how to achieve success for ADC come 2027,through the collective aspiration of the people of Mokwa, Lavun and Edati federal constituency.”

Politics is not all about financial inducements, but how popular are you at the grass roots and how early do you embark on your political permutation,most importantly Engr Takuma is a tested party loyalist,a seasoned comrade and a grassroots mobilizer who earned the success through hard work and dedication.

“Such groups should note that the emergence of Engr Takuma truely reflects the confidence of party faithful and stakeholders who believe in his vision,character, and his ability to deliver meaningful representation.at the National assembly”.

The concern group of Mokwa,Edati and Lavun therefore urge all genuine supporters of the ADC to remain calm, focused, and be united,.should know that in every contest there must be a loser,let’s always exhibit maturity in any disagreement instead of pursuing personal ambition.”

“Let it be emphatically clear that Engr Abubakar Takuma is not an imposed candidate as alleged in some quoters,as such some groups should refrain from inflammatory statements capable of causing disunity and damaging the image of the party before the public”

All we are to do at this moment is to put our axe together for the constituency and the party ADC to move forward to form government at both state and National levels.

By David Owei,Bayelsa

Secetary-General of the Movement for the Survival of the Izon Ethnic Nationality in the Niger Delta (MOSIEND), Ambassador Winston Cotterel Amain and Six others have emerged candidates of the All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA) for the State House of Assembly elections in Bayelsà State.

Ambassador Winston Cotterel Amain emerged as candidate of the Party to contest for the Nembe Constituency 1 seat.

Also cleared for the State Assembly ticket of the party are Ikioumoton Frederick Ugo (KOLGA 2), Joel Ebiegberi Ilebiri (Southern Ijaw 4), Chief Damiebi Asoh (Sagbama 3), Disney Desire Obakimo (Yenagoa 3), Alfred Iniedimo Apoh (Yenagoa 2) and Pastor Bokolo Eluan (Yenagoa 3).

The APGA State House of Assembly primary panel led by Hon. Obiene Onaemi Ibirino and Panel Secetary, Barr. Philip William Soroh supervised the primaries in company of the State Chairman, Brisibe Kpodoh.

Speaking with newsmen after the primary, Ambassador Winston Cotterel Amain, said he is out to effect a change in the lives of his constituent and ensure equitable distribution of wealth among all the constituencies in the states through motions and laws on the sacred floor of the House.

Amain, who is a founding member of the Ijaw Youths Council (IYC) and member of MOSIEND, noted that his decision to join politics is to effect change in the lives of the people of Nembe and ensure that the Local Content Act is domesticated in the state,” when it is domesticated the oil multinationals can no longer take our resources as crude oil and located their operational offices outside the state”

He said ” I felt this is the time to apply activism to politics to agitate for better life for my constituent. My people should be proud that am going to defend them on the floor of the House of Assembly.”

“My plan to ensure that Nembe benefit more from the dividend of democracy. Today,if you go to Nembe, you will see that governance have not been demonstrated in the lives of the people and communities.”

“In my constituency,I want to ensure that the vest opportunity we have is evident in the life of the people. I will work with other Assembly members and the State Government to bring companies and effect development in the area.”

“Our people need to have jobs,other opportunities in the oil and gas industries. Women and youths need to be trained and skills acquired.I will ensure that the Oil Multinationals are accountable to the people. We will ensure that resources available to Nembe is commiserate with resources taken from the communities. It must be equitable.”

Earlier, the State Chairman of APGA, Hon. Brisibe Kpodoh assures the party flag bearers of the issuance of certificate of return at a scheduled gathering in Anambra state under the Leadership of the State Governor, Charles Chukwuma Soludo CFR.

Kpodoh charged all party flag bearers against anti-party activities and induced defections from the party.

He also warned APGA candidates against acts of stepping down for opposition candidates during general elections,” APGA is for the betterment of the people. You need to sit up and work for the progress of the people.”