ARCON to clamp down on unapproved political adverts, prosecutes culprits
As political campaign activities intensify ahead the 2027 general election, the Advertising Regulatory Council of Nigeria (ARCON) has said it will commence a nationwide enforcement exercise to remove all political advertisements for which prior approval was not obtained before exposure.
The regulatory authority said it will commence the operation in collaboration with other relevant law enforcement agencies and 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.
In a statement signed by it’s Director General, Dr. Olalekan Fadolapo, ARCON noted that the step has become necessary following the activities of some politicians, political parties, support groups, advertising agencies and media owners that engage in the exposure of unapproved adverts, some of which have been found to violate religious and ethnical guidelines and are against the provisions of the Nigerian Code of Advertising.
“Kindly note that exposure of unapproved advertisements on the traditional and/or online media platforms without prior approval of the Advertising Standards Panel is an offence under section 34(3) of the Advertising Regulatory Council of Nigeria Act No 23 of 2022”, the statement reads in part.
It however enjoined all 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, so that there are not caught on the wrong side of the law.
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