BUHARI SIGNS ELECTORAL ACT AMENDMENT BILL INTO LAW

The Electoral Act Amendment Bill 2022 has been signed into law by President Muhammadu Buhari (retd.).

On Friday, President Buhari signed the bill at the Presidential Villa’s Council Chamber.

Professor Yemi Osinbajo, Vice President; Ahmed Lawan, President of the Senate; and Femi Gbajabiamila, Speaker of the House of Representatives, were all there to witness the signing of the Bill.

In his address, President Buhari said in line with established tradition, he received inputs from relevant ministries, departments and agencies of government after careful and thorough reviews of the Bill and its implications to democratic processes in Nigeria.

He said, “It is gratifying to note that the current Bill comes with a great deal of improvement from the previous Electoral Bill 2021. There are salient and praiseworthy provisions that could positively revolutionize elections in Nigeria through the introduction of new technological innovations. These innovations would guarantee the constitutional rights of citizens to vote and to do so effectively.

“The Bill would also improve and engender clarity, effectiveness and transparency of the election process, as well as reduce to the barest minimum incidences of acrimony arising from dissatisfied candidates and political parties.

“These commendable efforts are in line with our policy to bequeath posterity and landmark legal framework that paves the way for credible and sound electoral process that we would all be proud of.

“Distinguished Senators and Honourable Members of the National Assembly, from the review it is my perspective that the substance of the Bill is both reformative and progressive. I am making this bold declaration because I foresee the great potentials of the Bill. Worthy of note include the democratic efficacy of the Bill with particular reference to sections 3, 9(2), 34, 41, 47, 84(9), (10) and (11) among others.

“This, however, cannot be said about one provision as contained in the proposed Bill, which provision constitutes fundamental defect, as it is in conflict with extant constitutional provisions.

“Section 84 (12) constitutes a disenfranchisement of serving political office holders from voting or being voted for at Conventions or Congresses of any political party, for the purpose of the nomination of candidates for any election in cases where it holds earlier than 30 days to the National Election. The section provides as follows: “No political appointee at any level shall be voting delegate or be voted for at the Convention or Congress of any political party for the purpose of the nomination of candidates for any election”.

“This provision has introduced qualification and disqualification criteria that ultra vires the Constitution by way of importing blanket restriction and disqualification to serving political office holders of which they are constitutionally accorded protection.

“The practical application of section 84(12) of the Electoral Bill, 2022 will, if assented to, by operation of law, subject serving political office holders to inhibitions and restrictions referred to under section 40 and 42 of the 1999 Constitution (as amended).

“It is imperative to note that the only constitutional expectation placed on serving political office holders that qualify, by extension as public officers within the context of the constitution is resignation, withdrawal or retirement at least 30 days before the date of the election.

“Hence, it will be stretching things beyond the constitutional limit to import extraneous restriction into the constitution on account of practical application of section 84(12) of the bill where political parties’ conventions and congresses were to hold earlier than 30 days to the election.

“Arising from the foregoing, with particular regards to the benefits of the Bill, industry, time, resources and energy committed in its passage, I hereby assent to the Bill and request the Nationally Assembly to consider immediate amendments that will bring the Bill in tune with constitutionality by way of deleting section 84(12) accordingly.”

NBC can’t regulate advertising in Nigeria – Court rules

The Federal High Court sitting in Lagos has held that the Nigerian Broadcasting Commission (NBC) acted beyond its powers in seeking to regulate the practice of advertising in Nigeria contrary to the provisions of the extant Advertising Practitioners (Regulation) Act of 2004.

The court also declared that the NBC lacks the power to prohibit exclusivity on privately acquired intellectual property right in programme contents of a right holder viz a viz the salient provisions of the constitution and the copyright act.

Justice Ambrose Lewis-Allagoa also set aside the proposed amendment to the 6th Edition of the NBC Code for being ultra vires, incompetent null and void, and perpetually restrained the Commission from implementing it.

The court delivered the judgment, in a suit filed by a Lagos based journalist, Mr Femi Davies.

Mr Davies had approached the court contending among other things that the amendment sought by the defendant to the 6th edition of the Nigerian Broadcasting Code is in violation of his rights to own intellectual property in Nigeria over which he can exercise exclusive rights.

He had also argued that the amendment if allowed will greatly affect business and the development of the country as a whole as it will frustrate tonnes of investment and hard work of many years.

The NBC on its part had submitted that the amendment to the 6th broadcasting code was done to protect local operators, promote creativity and maximize local contents due to the anti trust provisions contained in the amendment.

It also claimed that the amendment was intended to among other things stimulate growth in the industry and attract foreign investment which would benefit the media industry generally.

But the plaintiff, Mr Davies argued amongst other things, that if allowed, the amendment would greatly violate his right to a fair hearing.

He asked the court to uphold his six reliefs as set out in his originating summons.

The plaintiff’s reliefs include “a declaration that the NBC lacks the requisite vires to prohibit exclusivity on privately acquired intellectual property right in program content of a right-holder viz-a-viz the salient provisions of the constitution and the Copyright Act.

“A declaration that the commission acted ultra-vires in so far as it sought to regulate the practice of advertising in Nigeria contrary to the provisions of the extant Advertising Practitioners (Registration, etc) Act, 2004.

“A declaration that the commission acted ultra vires when it sought to retroactively compel right holders of programme content to compulsorily share extant right acquired under existing licence under the proposed amendment to the 6th Edition of the NBC Code.

“A declaration that the commission acted ultra vires when it sought to retroactively compel right holders of programme content to compulsorily share extant right acquired through a partnership and /or joint venture with an investor under the proposed Amendment to NBC Code.

“An order setting aside the amendment of the NBC Code and an order of perpetual injunction restraining the NBC from implementing the Amendment to the NBC Code.

In his judgment, Justice Lewis-Allagoa held:

“I agree with the submission that acquisition of exclusive rights to Broadcast a particular program is an investment for returns and by virtue of the above-stated provisions, no one should be forced to surrender same when it is lawfully acquired…

“I am in agreement with the plaintiff counsel that the said proposed amendment is a violation of the principle of fair hearing and natural justice. The proposed amendment purports that the defendant NBC shall without any fact-finding or recourse to the other party place the advertising agency on its black list, solely based on the complaint of a media house to the defendant and the defendant acting has the authority to itself shall pass its verdict without hearing the other parties.

“I have determined the questions in the originating summon in favour of the plaintiff.

“For reasons hereinbefore given, consequently, all the reliefs sought by the plaintiff are granted as prayed. That is the judgment of the court .”

*STICKER ADVERTISING*
5000 stickers to be pasted on commercial vehicles, danfo, buses and KEKE in Lagos:

Locations:
Ikeja, Ikorodu, Lekki, Surulere, CMS, Alaba, Oshodi

*PASTING PLAN:*
- 2 skaters in Ikorodu
- 2 skaters in Ikeja
- 2 skatets in Lekki Admirty
- 2 skaters in Surulere
- 2 skaters in CMS
- 2 skaters in Alaba
- 2 skaters in Oshodi

WE SHARE FLYERS & PASTE STICKERS IN LAGOS...

Contact:
Symmetric Communications.

NIGERIA POSTER ADVERTISING

Are you always looking for new and exciting ways to advertise your posters in Nigeria?

Symmetric Poster Distribution is Nigeria’s premier poster advertising company with over 10 years’ experience in high impact poster distribution & pasting campaigns. We work hard with our clientele to advertise each event individually and to the best of standards.

Professionally executed poster advertising campaigns have a wide and high target market influence, reaching thousands of members of the public daily. When an event is publicised with a high impact poster distribution campaign the public are bombarded by visual advertisements (posters) for your production/event. In one day a single member of the public may see a hundreds of your posters or even thousands of your posters and of course every single poster might be seen and read by hundreds or even thousands of potential clients.

Research shows that the average lifespan of a poster in a shop window is approximately four weeks, in that time thousands of people will have walked by your posters or sat and read your posters. This repetition of visual exposure towards potential customers created by a high impact poster distribution campaign gives your event the highest chance of being remembered and therefore attended.

WE PASTE POLITICAL ELECTION CAMPAIGN POSTERS IN LAGOS, NIGERIA.

Contact:
Symmetric Communications.

NIGERIA POSTER ADVERTISING

Are you always looking for new and exciting ways to advertise?

We here at Symmetric Poster Distribution have over 15 years’ experience in high impact poster distribution and pasting campaigns in Nigeria.

Having participated in 4 cycles of elections in Nigeria, since 2007, with years of practical experience in professional poster pasting working for different politicians, aspirants and political parties across Nigeria in Presidential, National
Assembly, States and Local Government elections in Nigeria.

We have wealth of experience in pasting political campaign posters in Lagos, and Nationwide.

Professionally executed poster advertising campaigns have a wide and high target market influence, reaching thousands of members of the public daily. When an event is publicised with a high impact poster distribution campaign the public are bombarded by visual advertisements (posters) for your production/event. In one day a single member of the public may see a hundreds of your posters or even thousands of your posters and of course every single poster might be seen and read by hundreds or even thousands of potential audience, voters, electorate, etc.

Research shows that the average lifespan of a poster is approximately four weeks, in that time thousands of people will have walked by your posters or sat and read your posters. This repetition of visual exposure towards potential target audience created by a high impact poster distribution campaign gives you, seeking political office as president, senator, house of representative, governor, chairman, councillor, federal & state law makers, the highest chance of being remembered and therefore voted for.

WE PASTE 2023 ELECTION CAMPAIGN POSTERS IN NIGERIA.

Contact:
Symmetric Communications.

POSTER POLITICS IN NIGERIA

_Written by: Ernest Davids_

Campaign posters are the pedestrians' visual language of established party candidates. Adventurous political campaign posters are memorable and effective.

The best ones that promote a candidate inspire hope and optimism. The best ones that oppose a candidate use humor or satire to critique the candidate for what they've done, or for what they promise or threaten to do.

Supporters hold up posters of their preferred candidates during a campaign rally, debate, congress, convention and electioneering campaign.

Posters remain one of the most effective and powerful tools for holding political leaders accountable.

To be frank, the vast majority of Nigeria campaign posters are boring. Most are simply a picture, logo and text of the candidate's name, with party identity.

Giant posters of political party candidates are mounted and pasted in major towns, bridges, express ways, high ways, street, buildings and structures and in the backyard of supporters of these candidates, politicians.

Political campaign posters are designed to cajole people who may be undecided to vote for whoever seems to be the most popular candidate -- and the more signs, posters, out there, the more popular that candidate will appear.

Campaign posters need to convey stability and promote confidence.

All over the world, posters are primarily used to oppose politicians in power and also to support diverse individuals and causes.

During demonstrations, demonstrators hold up posters depicting pictures and inscriptions that promote their cause.

As long as people have political opinions, printed posters and their unique forms of art are a fundamental tool to express their political views, aspirations, affiliation, opinions, etc.

WE PASTE POLITICAL ELECTION CAMPAIGN POSTERS, STICKERS IN NIGERIA.

Contact:
Symmetric Communications.

2000 FLIERS TO BE DISTRIBUTED THIS SUNDAY

- House on the Rock Church, Lekki: 1000 Fliers, 2 skaters

- DayStar Christian Centre, Ikeja: 1000 Fliers, 2 Skaters

TIME : Sunday Morning.

We offer outdoor advertising services: flyer, leaflet, handbill distribution, sticker pasting, billboard advertising, BRT bus branding, street lamppost, banner hosting, poster pasting, transit advertising.

CAR STICKER ACTIVATION / DISTRIBUTION IN LEKKI & GRA-IKEJA FOR 3 SATURDAYS

*1st Saturday*
- Lekki: 1000 Stickers, 2 Skaters
- GRA-Ikeja: 1000 Stickers, 2 Skaters

*2nd Saturday*
- Lekki: 1000 Stickers, 2 Skaters
- GRA-Ikeja: 1000 Stickers, 2 Skaters

*3rd Saturday*
- Lekki: 1000 Stickers, 2 Skaters
- GRA-Ikeja: 1000 Stickers, 2 Skaters

*Total Number of Stickers:*
6000 Stickers

*Total Number of Skaters:*
12 Skaters

Branded T-Shirts will be made available to the skaters for the campaign.

*Duration of Campaign*
Three(3) consecutive Saturdays

*Means of Evaluation:*
Pictures & Video

*Special Instruction to Skaters:*
- No dreadlocks
- No bag
- No rugged jeans

All skaters must be decently dressed with a positive disposition.

COST:

*Contact:*
Symmetric Communications.

*10,000 COPIES OF FLIERS TO BE DISTRIBUTED AS FOLLOWS:*

*DAY 1: LAGOS ISLAND*

- Lekki: 1000 Fliers, 2 Skaters,

- VI: 1000 Fliers, 2 Skaters,

- Ikoyi: 1000 Fliers, 2 Skaters,

- Lagos Island: 1000 Fliers, 2 Skaters,

- Ajah: 1000 Fliers, 2 Skaters,

*DAY 2: MAINLAND*

- Ikeja-Shoprite: 1000 Fliers, 2 Skaters

- Surulere: 1000 Fliers, 2 Skaters,

- Magodo: 1000 Fliers, 2 Skaters,

- Yaba (Unilag): 1000 Fliers, 2 Skaters

- Maryland: 1000 Fliers, 2 Skaters,

*MEANS OF EVALUATION:*
Pictures & Video

*DISTRIBUTION PLAN FOR 5000 FLIERS IN LAGOS*

LOCATION:

*DAY 1*
- Ikoyi: 1250 Fliers, 3 Skaters

*DAY 2*
- Victoria Island: 1250 Fliers, 3 Skaters

*DAY 3*
- Lekki: 1250 Fliers, 3 Skaters

*DAY 4*
- Ajah: 1250 Fliers, 3 Skaters

*MEANS OF EVALUATION*
- Pictures & Video

*EXTRA PUBLICITY*
Branded T-shirts & Face-Cap.

WE SHARE FLYERS AND PASTE STICKERS IN LAGOS, LEKKI, VICTORIA ISLAND, IKEJA, AJAH, GBAGADA, MARYLAND, SURULERE, OBALENDE-CMS, LAGOS ISLAND.

Contact:
Symmetric Communications.