The Advertising Regulatory Council of Nigeria (ARCON), the regulatory body for advertising and marketing communications in the country, has warned politicians, political parties, support groups, advertising agencies, and media owners against exposing or publishing unapproved political advertisements as political campaign activities gather momentum ahead of the 2027 general elections.
In a one-page public statement dated August 31, 2026, and signed by its Director-General, Dr. Olalekan Fadolapo, ARCON said it had received reports of activities by some politicians, political parties, support groups, advertising agencies, and media owners involving advertisements that had been found to violate religious and ethnic guidelines, as well as provisions of the Nigerian Code of Advertising.
It consequently urged all stakeholders involved in political advertising to exercise caution and ensure that all advertising, advertisement, and marketing communications complied with the Nigerian Advertising Law and other relevant extant laws.
ARCON specifically reminded stakeholders that exposure of unapproved advertisements on both traditional and online media platforms without prior approval of the Advertising Standards Panel (ASP) is prohibited under Section 34(3) of the Advertising Regulatory Council of Nigeria Act No. 23 of 2022.
It called on all political parties, elective political office aspirants, political campaign organisations, advertising agencies, and media owners to immediately cease exposing advertisements that had not received the required prior approval from the Advertising Standards Panel.
The warning covers advertisements disseminated through both conventional media and online platforms, signalling that digital political advertising is also subject to the regulatory approval requirement.
ARCON said it would take enforcement action against political advertisements that had been exposed without the required approval.
It announced that in collaboration with other relevant law enforcement agencies, it would 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 any person or corporate body that sponsors, causes to be exposed, exposes, or benefits from political advertising, advertisement, or marketing communication without the approval of the Advertising Standards Panel.
The warning therefore extends beyond politicians and political parties to other actors in the political advertising chain, including advertisers, media organisations, and other entities involved in sponsoring or disseminating campaign messages.
Although the Council said some of the unapproved advertisements brought to its attention had violated religious and ethnic guidelines, it did not identify the specific advertisements or political actors involved in the statement.
ARCON’s statement does not indicate the criteria it will use in determining which advertisements will be removed beyond the requirement for prior ASP approval and compliance with applicable advertising laws and guidelines.
