KWASAA, ARCON to tighten campaign advertising rules ahead of 2027 Elections

By Ahmed Olayinka

The Kwara State Signage and Advertisement Agency (KWASAA), in collaboration with the Advertising Regulatory Council of Nigeria (ARCON), is set to strengthen the regulation of political campaign communications and advertising ahead of the 2027 general elections, THE PRIME NEWS reports.

The two agencies have scheduled a one-day stakeholders’ engagement on campaign communication and advertising regulations for Thursday, August 27, 2026, at the Ilorin Innovation Hub, Ilorin.

The sensitisation workshop is expected to bring together political parties, candidates, advertising practitioners, media organisations and security agencies to discuss the regulatory requirements guiding political advertising during the electioneering period.

Speaking with journalists in Ilorin during a press briefing, the Acting General Manager of KWASAA, Oloruntoba Akin Adeyeye, ARPA, said the early engagement was aimed at establishing a clear regulatory framework for campaign communications, permit acquisition and the use of public spaces.

Adeyeye explained that the initiative was also designed to prevent visual clutter, environmental degradation and other possible violations arising from the indiscriminate placement of campaign materials across the state.

He stressed that KWASAA’s responsibilities extend beyond revenue generation, noting that the agency is equally concerned with maintaining professional standards, public safety and orderly urban aesthetics across Kwara.

Also speaking, the Ilorin Zonal Head of ARCON, Yusuf Abdulrasaq, cautioned political parties, candidates and other stakeholders that obtaining approval from KWASAA at the state level does not exempt them from securing the mandatory federal vetting approval of ARCON before publishing or broadcasting political advertisements.

According to Abdulrasaq, ARCON’s vetting requirements cover political advertisements across various platforms, including billboards, print and electronic media, transit branding and social media.

He further warned that the use of unauthorised advertising concepts attracts a minimum penalty of N500,000 per violation, urging political actors, media organisations and communication practitioners to ensure full compliance with applicable regulations.

The forthcoming stakeholders’ engagement is expected to provide clearer guidance on the approval processes and other regulatory requirements while promoting a more orderly, professional and compliant campaign environment across Kwara State ahead of the 2027 elections.