The Abia State Government has unveiled a new fee structure that will require presidential candidates and other political office aspirants to pay millions of naira for campaign billboard space in the state ahead of the 2027 elections.
Governor Alex Otti, through the state’s signage regulatory agency, announced that any presidential candidate wishing to erect campaign billboards in Abia must pay a non-refundable fee of N200 million.
The policy, which the government insists applies equally to all political parties, extends to other elective positions as well, with governorship candidates expected to pay N150 million, senatorial aspirants N100 million, House of Representatives candidates N50 million, and state assembly hopefuls N20 million.
According to officials at the Abia State Structure for Signage and Advertising Agency (ABSSAA), the fees are designed to regulate the proliferation of political advertisements across the state and ensure that campaign materials meet safety and aesthetic standards.
The agency clarified that the payment covers the entire campaign period and is a one-time charge.
However, the announcement has not been without pushback. Opposition parties in the state have criticised the policy, describing it as excessive and potentially aimed at stifling political competition.
The African Democratic Congress (ADC) has already raised concerns, arguing that the charges are inconsistent with the spending limits prescribed by the Electoral Act.
Speaking on the development, a representative of the state government defended the decision, maintaining that the policy is not targeted at any particular party or candidate. He stressed that the fees are meant to create order in the outdoor advertising space and prevent the kind of visual pollution that often accompanies election seasons.
ABSSAA further warned that any campaign billboards erected without approval or found to be structurally unsafe would be removed immediately, regardless of the candidate or party involved.
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