Advertising Regulatory Council of Nigeria (ARCON) has warned politicians, political parties and advertisement agencies to ensure all advertising, advertisement and marketing communication activities are done in compliance with the nation’s advertising and other relevant extant laws.

In a statement signed by ARCON’s Director General, Olalekan Fadolapo, yesterday, he noted that the council’s attention had been drawn to the activities of some politicians, political parties and support groups that publish unapproved adverts.

Saying such actions violate religious and ethnic guidelines, he added it violated provisions of the nation’s code of advertising.

He said: “As political campaign activities and voters’ education have commenced in earnest towards the next general elections, kindly note that exposure of unapproved advertisements on the traditional and online media platforms without prior approval of the Advertising Standards Panel is an offence under section 34(3) of the ARCON Act.’

He warned all political parties, elective political office aspirants, political campaign organisations, advertisement agencies and media space owners to immediately cease and desist from exposing advertisements without prior approval of the Advertising Standards Panel (ASP) as required by the ARCON Act.

He also warned that ARCON would prosecute any person or body corporate who sponsored, caused to be exposed, exposed or took benefit of political advertising, advertisement or marketing communication without the approval of the ASP.