The Advertising Regulatory Council of Nigeria (ARCON) has organised a one-day Seminar for media practitioners and political parties in Kwara State on how best to come up with communication strategies and issue-based political campaigns ahead of the 2023 general elections.
The seminar, which was held in conjunction with Trendsville Media in Ilorin, Kwara State capital, was themed: “Political Advertising – Startegies and Tactics, the Seminar, was well attended by media personnel; politicians across the party lines; officials of the State government; academics; and advertising agents/experts.
The event also featured repected experts and some panelists who spoke on Marketing Communication and Nigeria’s Political Economy; Regulatory/legal issues in Political Advertising; and the Requirements and Process of Approval of Political Advertisement.
ARCON’s Director General Dr. Olalekan Fadolapo said the programme was organised to sensitise advertisers and communication experts on the need to abide by the new ARCON Act, adding that violation of the Act would not be condoned.
He commended President Muhammadu Buhari and other relevant agencies of government for playing active roles over the signing of the new Act, which, he said, has increased the function of the body.
In his lecture, CEO Noah’s Ark Communication, Lanre Adisa, said it is not only criminal to run political adverts without ARCON’s approval but also susceptible to loss of the target results.
He said there is a clear difference between the advertisement managed by an expert and those coming from quacks, requesting all practitioners and politicians to always engage the service of the professionals.
Also speaking, DG Centre for Media Law and Development, Barrister Charles Odenigbo, said no section of the ARCON’s Act seeks to entirely regulate the social media but to check the practice of advertising political parties or candidates on the social media, which he said is a breach of the Council’s regulation.
He enjoined all social media handlers to adhere to the new legal framework to avoid penalties.
Mrs. Ijedi Iyoha, who is the Director, Regulation, Monitoring and Enforcement at the Council, said ARCON is living no stone unturned in ensuring that political campaigns are issues-based and not designed to run down the opponents with derogatory comments.
She said the Council has a mandate to insist on political parties making their advert contents truthful, objective and not diversionary, saying comparative advertisements have no place in the ARCON’s regulation.
Among the panelists at the occasion included an associate Professor at the University of Ilorin, Dr. Saudat Abdulbaqi; Dr. Kadijat Kadir; Mrs. Emme Akande; Architect Oladotun Sikirullahi, who all applauded the Federal government for the enactment of the ARCON’s new Act.
Participants at the event commended the ARCON for the Seminar and charged them to continue to up their game, especially on regular engagement of the practitioners and members of the public on the use of social media for political advertisements.
