ARCON Cautions Parties on Unapproved Political Ads for 2027 Elections

The Advertising Regulatory Council of Nigeria (ARCON) has issued a stern warning to political parties, politicians, and media owners regarding the use of unapproved political advertisements ahead of the 2027 general elections. ARCON expressed concern over the increasing deployment of campaign materials that violate religious and ethnic guidelines outlined in the Nigerian Code of Advertising.

The regulatory body noted a surge in advertising and marketing communication materials that have not received mandatory approval from the Advertising Standards Panel (ASP) as political activities and voter education campaigns commence. ARCON emphasized that all political advertisements must comply with the Nigerian Advertising Law and other relevant regulations. The council stated that exposing advertisements on any media platform without prior ASP approval is an offense under Section 34(3) of the ARCON Act.

Consequently, ARCON directed political parties, aspirants, campaign organizations, advertising agencies, and media space owners to immediately cease publishing, broadcasting, or displaying political advertisements lacking prior clearance. The council announced plans to collaborate with law enforcement agencies for a nationwide enforcement exercise to remove all unapproved political advertisements. ARCON also warned that it would prosecute any individual or corporate entity found to have sponsored, approved, exposed, or facilitated such advertising without the requisite approval.

This directive signals ARCON's commitment to tightening compliance within Nigeria's political advertising landscape as political activities intensify. The implication for political parties and campaign managers is that campaign communication must now integrate compliance from the initial planning stages. Campaign managers, media consultants, public relations advisers, advertising agencies, and digital strategists will need to build regulatory compliance into their strategies from the outset.

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The attention of the Advertising Regulatory Council of Nigeria (ARCON) has been drawn to the activities of some politicians, political parties and support groups that engage in the exposure of unapproved adverts, some of which have been found to violate religious and ethnic guidelines and are against the provision of the Nigerian Code of Advertising.