The African Action Congress (AAC), Anambra State chapter, has condemned the imposition of a ₦50 million campaign advertisement fee by the Anambra State Signage and Advertisement Agency (ANSAA), declaring it a deliberate move to suppress opposition voices ahead of the November 8, 2025, governorship election.

In response, the party has announced a protest scheduled for Friday, June 20, to be held at the ANSAA office.

The demonstration aims to challenge the exploitative and unconstitutional policy designed to limit political participation and marginalise grassroots movements.

The protest comes in reaction to recent guidelines issued by ANSAA’s Managing Director/CEO, Tony Ujubuonu, who stated that each of the 16 officially cleared governorship candidates by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) must pay ₦50 million to obtain a campaign permit. According to Ujubuonu, the fee is a prerequisite for parties to legally conduct campaign-related activities using posters, banners, rallies, and other promotional tools across the state’s 21 local government areas.

In a statement released Thursday by Chimezie Uzoukwu, Media Director of the Chioma 2025 Campaign Committee, the AAC described the fee as “exploitative, undemocratic, and economically disenfranchising.”

“This fee seeks to stifle political participation and limit the ability of grassroots campaigns to engage with the public,” the statement read. “AAC stands firmly for justice, transparency, and the right of the people to be heard. We cannot remain silent in the face of policies aimed at silencing alternative leadership voices.”

Calling on activists, civil society groups, members of the media, and all defenders of democracy to join the protest, AAC declared its unwavering commitment to people-first governance in Anambra State.

“We reject any attempt to use state institutions to entrench elite dominance while suppressing working-class-led alternatives. The streets will speak for the people,” the statement concluded.