The African Democratic Congress (ADC) in Anambra State has threatened to challenge in court the introduction of a N50 million campaign permit fee for governorship candidates by the state government.
The Anambra State Signage and Advertising Agency (ANSAA) had on Wednesday ordered the governorship candidates for the November 8 election to pay a N50 million campaign permit fee.
At least 16 candidates, including Governor Charles Soludo, have been cleared for the election by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC).
But the ADC chairman in the state, Patrick Obianyo, in a chat with journalists in Awka, argued that the policy was targeted at weakening the opposition political parties.
He insisted that the party would challenge the action in court.
Obianyo said: “If the state government refused to withdraw the plan, ADC would institute legal action against it.”
“ADC governorship candidate will not make the payment, as it amounts to intimidation and an act of stifling democracy and the opposition.”
“This is unheard of and unfortunately, a policy coming from the same Soludo who contested for governor in the year 2021 and never paid such money.”
“How can a political party pay N50 million for an ordinary T-shirt, cap, and pamphlet?”
“We are witnessing this for the first time in Anambra, and one wouldn’t know why the governor decided to have himself associated with such a policy.”
“This is an indication that Governor Soludo is afraid of the opposition.”
“We never heard of it. We are saying no to such. We are capable of paying, but it is wrong, unconstitutional, and undemocratic, and we are rejecting it.”
