The Abia State Structure for Signage and Advertising Agency (ABSSAA) has announced steep fees for political campaign billboards and structures ahead of the 2027 general elections.
Under the new policy, presidential candidates seeking to display campaign materials in the state must pay N200 million, while governorship candidates are required to pay N150 million.
The agency further pegged fees at N100 million for senatorial candidates, N50 million for House of Representatives aspirants, and N20 million for State House of Assembly candidates.
The payments are said to cover both the campaign and election periods.The policy was unveiled on Wednesday in Aba by the Director of Strategy and Innovation of ABSSAA, Ndubuisi Nwogwugwu, during the agency’s 2026 stakeholders engagement forum.
Nwogwugwu explained that candidates unable to afford the full House of Assembly fee could opt for a joint campaign billboard, placing their picture under that of their party’s governorship candidate.
The agency warned that it would dismantle or revoke any unapproved billboards, especially those posing risks to public safety or threatening peace in the state.
Speaking at the event, the Director General of the Abia State Bureau of Strategic Communication, Onyebuchi Ememanka, insisted that the fees apply equally to all political parties and are not intended to suppress opposition voices or visibility.
However, the policy has drawn immediate backlash. The Chairman of the African Democratic Congress (ADC) in Abia State, Kalu Kalu, who attended the forum, rejected the charges outright.
He argued that they violate the provisions of the Nigerian Electoral Act, particularly regarding campaign expenditure limits and principles of fair play.
“Has it not exceeded the election expenses that are provided by the Electoral Act?” Kalu questioned, urging the agency to reduce the fees to more reasonable and legally compliant levels.
He warned that such high amounts could disadvantage opposition candidates and undermine fairness in the 2027 polls.
This development comes as some other states have introduced similar advertising levies, sparking broader concerns from opposition parties about potential barriers to political participation.
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