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From Okey Sampson, Umuahia
The opposition political parties in Asia State have kicked against the fees announced by the Abia State Structure for Signage and Advertising Agency (ABSSAA) to be paid by respective candidates for the 2027 elections before they could display their political campaign posters anywhere in the state.
ABSSAA had, on Wednesday, placed a N200 million signage fee on all 2027 presidential candidates, and fees ranging from N150 million to N20 million on candidates contesting the governorship and other elective positions before they could display their political campaign posters anywhere in the state.
Reacting to the development, the acting state Chairman of the African Democratic Congress (ADC), Kalu Kalu Agu, rejected the new campaign fees, saying it contravened the provisions of the Nigerian Electoral Act, especially where it affects campaign funds limits and fair play violations.
Also, the Abia State Chapter of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) strongly condemned the signage fees, describing it as not only outrageous and punitive but, also, a “draconian assault on political participation”.
In a statement signed by the state Publicity Secretary of the party, Jude Udeachara, the PDP said it considered the policy an outrageous commercialisation of the democratic space, a calculated assault on opposition candidates and an unconscionable attempt to convert political participation into the exclusive privilege of the wealthy and those with access to public funds.
PDP said this was not regulation, but political extortion dressed in administrative language, aimed at silencing political opponents and denying less financially endowed candidates the opportunity to communicate with the Abia electorate.
“Governor Otti must be reminded that Abia State is not his private estate and that ABSSAA is not an instrument that may lawfully be deployed to erect financial barricades against opposition political parties. Public advertising spaces are part of the democratic environment in which candidates must be allowed to canvas for votes under fair, transparent, and reasonable conditions.
“The imposition of these prohibitive charges raises grave questions about the Otti administration’s understanding of the campaign finance framework established by the Electoral Act 2026.
“Section 92 of the Act limits the total election expenditure of a presidential candidate to N10 billion, a governorship candidate to N3 billion, a senatorial candidate to N500 million, a House of Representatives candidate to N250 million, and a State House of Assembly candidate to N100 million. A candidate who knowingly exceeds the applicable ceiling commits an offence and may, upon conviction, face a fine, imprisonment for up to 12 months, or both”.
The party reasoned that if all 36 states and the Federal Capital Territory were to replicate Abia’s N200 million charge, a presidential candidate would be required to spend N7.4 billion on permits alone.
“That would consume 74 percent of the candidate’s entire N10 billion statutory spending ceiling before paying for the production, mounting or maintenance of a single billboard or undertaking any other campaign activity.
“This exposes the absurdity, recklessness, and anti-democratic character of the Alex Otti administration’s policy”.
PDP called on the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to take immediate notice of the dangerous development and caution the Abia State Government against policies capable of undermining a level playing field ahead of the 2027 elections.
