Rivers LG Polls: Advertising Practitioners Urge Regulatory Compliance in Electioneering Campaigns
As preparations intensify for the upcoming local government elections in Rivers State scheduled for Saturday, August 30, 2025, the Advertising Practitioners Association, Port Harcourt Chapter (APAPHC) has called on political parties and their candidates to adhere strictly to advertising regulations in their electioneering campaigns.
Chairman of the association, Dr. Dike Bekwele, made this appeal during an interview with journalists in Port Harcourt, urging political actors to prioritize professionalism and regulatory compliance in the creation and dissemination of their campaign materials.
Dr. Bekwele emphasized the importance of subjecting all campaign advertisements to the Advertising Regulatory Council of Nigeria (ARCON) for validation through the services of registered advertising professionals.
According to him, failure to comply with this process amounts to a breach of the ARCON Act of 2022.
“Political parties and their candidates should comply with the advertising regulations and laws by engaging the services of only registered advertising practitioners who will help to secure clearance from the advertising regulators before campaigns begin.”
He warned against patronizing unregistered individuals, describing them as “quacks” who pose a threat to the integrity of the profession.
“I enjoin politicians and political parties to ensure that only practitioners registered with the Advertising Regulatory Council of Nigeria are consulted and engaged for all forms of political campaigns. Patronising quacks amounts to economic crime.”
The APAPHC, under the leadership of Dr. Bekwele, a Fellow of the Nigerian Institute of Public Relations (FNIPR), Fellow of the Nigerian Institute of Marketing of Nigeria (FNIMN), and a Registered Practicing Advertiser (RPA), serves as the umbrella body for advertising professionals in Port Harcourt.
All members are registered by ARCON to practice advertising and marketing communications across Nigeria.
With campaigns set to intensify in the coming weeks, the association is urging stakeholders to uphold professionalism, regulatory compliance, and ethical standards throughout the election season.
