BREAKING: Abia Govt Slaps ₦200m Billboard Permit Fee on Presidential Candidates

• The Abia State Government has announced that presidential candidates seeking to campaign through billboards and posters in the state will be required to pay ₦200 million for advertising permits.

The Abia State Government has fixed a ₦200 million campaign advertising permit fee for presidential candidates wishing to deploy billboards, posters and other outdoor campaign materials across the state ahead of the 2027 general elections.

The announcement was made on Wednesday during a Stakeholders Forum on Political Campaign Advertising Fees organised by the Abia State Structures for Signages and Advertising Agency (ABSSAA) in Aba.

Speaking at the forum themed, “Order in Outdoors: Partnership for Safe Campaigns, Sustainable Revenue and A Cleaner Abia,” the Head of Department, Strategy, Innovation and Design at ABSSAA, Mr Ndubuisi Nwaogwugwu, unveiled the approved fee schedule for political candidates.

According to him, presidential candidates will pay ₦200 million, governorship candidates ₦150 million, senatorial candidates ₦100 million, House of Representatives candidates ₦50 million, while House of Assembly candidates will pay ₦20 million.

Nwaogwugwu said the fees were approved by the Abia State Government and would apply throughout the official election campaign period.

“The schedule of Political Campaign Advertising Permit Fees contained herein has been approved by the Government of Abia State and applies throughout the approved election campaign period,” he stated.

Also speaking, the Director-General of the Abia State Strategic Communications Bureau, Sir Onyebuchi Ememanka, described the permit fees as non-negotiable, insisting that the policy was aimed at maintaining order, protecting public infrastructure and ensuring a cleaner environment during electioneering campaigns.

“It is about protecting lives on our roads, preserving the beauty of our cities and safeguarding the integrity of the democratic process,” Ememanka said.

He added that the administration of Governor Alex Otti would provide equal opportunities for all political parties and candidates, stressing that no party would be discriminated against as long as they complied with the established guidelines.

However, the announcement drew criticism from stakeholders in the advertising and political sectors.

The President of the Outdoor Advertising Association of Nigeria (OAAN), Dr Sola Akinsiku, expressed concerns over the fees, describing them as excessive and potentially harmful to political communication and voter engagement.

Represented by OAAN Treasurer, Mr Chinweuba Nwagu, Akinsiku argued that the charges could discourage outdoor political advertising, reduce voter awareness and ultimately affect participation in the electoral process.

Similarly, the Abia State Chairman of the African Democratic Congress (ADC), Mr Kalu Kalu, questioned the legality of the charges, citing previous Supreme Court judgments that assigned the collection of outdoor advertising fees to local governments.

He argued that any regulation requiring presidential candidates to spend billions of naira on campaign advertising across the country could face legal challenges.

Despite the opposition, the Abia State Government maintained that the policy was designed to promote orderliness, transparency and responsible campaign activities across the state.

Governor Alex Otti’s administration also reiterated its commitment to building a cleaner, safer and more investment-friendly Abia while ensuring political campaigns are conducted within a regulated framework.