Advertising regulator warns politicians, agencies, media owners and campaign groups against exposing political adverts without prior approval
The Advertising Regulatory Council of Nigeria (ARCON) has warned politicians, political parties, campaign organisations, advertising agencies, support groups and media owners against exposing political advertisements without prior approval from the Advertising Standards Panel as campaign activities intensify ahead of Nigeria’s 2027 general elections.
In a public notice dated 31 August 2026, the advertising regulator said it had observed activities involving political actors, support groups, advertising agencies and media owners in the exposure of unapproved advertisements, some of which it said violated religious and ethnic guidelines as well as provisions of the Nigerian Code of Advertising.
ARCON said political campaign activities had commenced in earnest towards the 2027 elections and urged all stakeholders involved in political advertising and marketing communication to ensure that their activities comply with the Nigerian Advertising Law and other applicable legislation.
The regulator specifically drew attention to Section 34(3) of the Advertising Regulatory Council of Nigeria Act No. 23 of 2022, which it said makes the exposure of unapproved advertisements on traditional and/or online media platforms without prior approval of the Advertising Standards Panel an offence.
According to ARCON, all political parties, candidates for elective political offices, political campaign organisations, advertising agencies and media owners are required to obtain the necessary approval before political advertisements are exposed to the public.
The Council said it would, in collaboration with relevant law enforcement agencies, commence a nationwide enforcement exercise aimed at removing political advertisements for which prior approval had not been obtained.
ARCON further warned that it would seek to prosecute individuals and corporate bodies that sponsor, cause to be exposed, expose or benefit from political advertising, advertising or marketing communication carried out without the required approval of the Advertising Standards Panel.
The warning comes as political communication is expected to increase significantly in the build-up to the 2027 general elections, with political campaigns increasingly using a combination of traditional media, digital platforms and other forms of targeted communication to reach voters.
The regulator’s intervention places particular responsibility on advertising agencies and media owners, who may be involved in the production, placement, distribution or exposure of political advertising, as well as on campaign organisations and political actors sponsoring such communication.
ARCON said the enforcement action was necessary to ensure that political advertising activities remain within the boundaries established by Nigeria’s advertising laws and professional standards.
The notice was signed by the Director-General of ARCON, Dr Olalekan Fadolapo.
For the advertising and marketing communications industry, the directive signals that regulatory scrutiny of political advertising is likely to become more pronounced as the 2027 election cycle gathers momentum, particularly as political communication increasingly moves between conventional media and digital platforms.
ARCON’s warning therefore places political advertisers and their professional advisers on notice that regulatory approval is not simply an administrative requirement but a legal obligation governing the exposure of political advertising in Nigeria.
