The opposition coalition contends that the regulation of electioneering campaigns is an exclusive preserve of INEC as enshrined in the Electoral Act and the 1999 Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria (as amended).
A coalition of opposition political parties in Enugu State has sued the state government and its advertisement regulatory body over the ₦150 million payment for an "advertising permit fee" before executing campaign activities.
The suit filed at the Federal High Court, Enugu division, the opposition parties are challenging the policy, which targets the use of billboards and posters ahead of the 2026/2027 general elections, describing it as an unconstitutional overreach aimed at stifling the civic space and bankrupting political rivals.
The legal action, initiated via an originating summons dated June 15, 2026, was jointly filed by the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Labour Party (LP), Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC), Social Democratic Party (SDP), and their respective state chairmen.
Listed as defendants in the high-stakes lawsuit are the Enugu State Structures for Signage and Advertisement Agency (ENSSAA); its General Manager, Mr. Francis Aninwike; the Enugu State House of Assembly; the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC); the Advertising Regulatory Council of Nigeria (ARCON); and the Nigeria Police Force.
