llegal adverts : ARCON threatens Court action against Politicians, Agencies

As political campaign activities gradually heightens across the country towards the 2027 general elections, The Advertising Regulatory Council of Nigeria (ARCON) has called out to Political parties, Politicians and advertising agencies to be wary of what it termed as illegal exposure of unapproved advertisements throughout the Nigerian media.
The Council noted it would seek to prosecute any person or body Corporate who sponsors or cause to be exposed, exposes or takes benefits of political advertising, advertisements and marketing communication without approval of the Advertising Standards Panel, its highest Vetting organ.
In a public statement released by the Council and signed by the Director General, Dr Olalekan Fadolapo, ARCON said its attention had be 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 therefore against the provision of the Nigerian Code of advertising.
According to the Council’s statement, as Political campaign activities and voters education have commenced in earnest towards the next general elections , Politicians, Political parties, advertisement agencies, Political Support groups and stakeholders are enjoined to exercise caution and ensure that all advertising , advertisement and marketing communications activities are done in alignment with the Nigerian advertising law and other relevant extant laws.
The Council further notes that exposure of unapproved advertisements on the traditional and/or online media without prior approval of the Advertising Standards Panel (ASP) is an offence under section 34 (3) of the ARCON Act.
“All Political Parties, elective political Office aspirants , political campaign organizations advertisement agencies and media space owners are hereby advised to immediately seize and desist from exposing advertisements without prior approval of the Advertising Standards Panel as required by the ARCON Act.
In vie of the above, the statement adds “ ARCON , in collaboration with other relevant law enforcement agencies will commence a national enforcement exercise to remove all political ad advertisements for which prior approval was not obtained before exposure.
“ ARCON will seek to prosecute any person or body Corporate who sponsors or causes to be exposed, exposes or takes benefit of political advertising, advertisements or marketing communications without approval of the Advertising Standards Panel” the statement added