ARCON Sensitises Members On Legal Challenges Of Political Adverts

In preparation for political activities in Nigeria, Advertising Regulatory Council of Nigeria (ARCON) has held an awareness forum for its stakeholders, including advertisers, media practitioners and politicians on ways to identify and avoid legal pitfalls in political advertisements.

ARCON told those at the one-day forum with the theme: “Political Advertising in Nigeria: Regulations, Compliance, and Enforcement” that they must know the legal challenges when involved in political advertising.

According to industry watchers, before now, over 80 percent of advertisements in Nigeria were not in compliance with extant laws.

Delivering his paper at the event that was held in Abuja yesterday, director-general of Centre for Media Law and Development, Barr Charles Odenigbo said it was very important for the practitioners to be abreast of the guiding modern rules and guidelines regulating the publication of advertorials.

Focusing his paper presentation on the regulated, regulator and end users of advertorials, Odenigbo took the audience through the relevant guidelines, including the provisions of the 2022 Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) guidelines regulating political advertising in the country, National Broadcasting Commission (NBC) codes and guidelines.

He observed that many individuals and institutions have not taken the time to study the provisions of the advertising guidelines for them to safely navigate between the lines.

“For advert practitioners, media practitioners, it is important that you understand these guidelines to stop misleading Nigeria’s and heating up the polity,” Barr Odenigbo stated.