The Abia State Government has announced that political parties seeking to advertise their presidential candidates through billboards and posters during election campaigns will be required to pay a ₦200 million campaign advertising permit fee.
The announcement was made on Wednesday in Aba during a Stakeholders Forum on Political Campaign Advertising Fees, organised by the Abia State Structures for Signages and Advertising Agency (ABSSAA). The forum was themed “Order in Outdoors: Partnership for Safe Campaigns, Sustainable Revenue and A Cleaner Abia.”
Speaking at the event, the Head of Department, Strategy, Innovation and Design at ABSSAA, Mr. Ndubuisi Nwaogwugwu, explained that the approved permit fees apply to candidates of all political parties contesting elections in the state and are backed by existing laws regulating signage and outdoor advertising in Abia.
According to him, presidential candidates will pay ₦200 million, while governorship candidates will pay ₦150 million. He added that senatorial candidates will pay ₦100 million, House of Representatives candidates ₦50 million, and House of Assembly candidates ₦20 million.
“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,” Nwaogwugwu said.
Also speaking, the Director General of the Abia State Strategic Communications Bureau, Sir Onyebuchi Ememanka, said the permit fees were non-negotiable, stressing that the policy is aimed at promoting public safety, environmental cleanliness and a transparent political campaign process.
“It is about protecting lives on our roads, preserving the beauty of cities, and protecting the integrity of our democratic process,” Ememanka said.
He assured political parties that the state government would not discriminate against any candidate or political party.
“Please note this, for the avoidance of doubt – the Abia Government will not discriminate against any political party or any candidate,” he stated.
Ememanka added that every political party would enjoy equal access to outdoor advertising spaces provided they comply with the guidelines and pay the required fees.
However, the proposed fees have attracted criticism from stakeholders in the advertising industry.
The President of the Out-of-Home Advertising Association of Nigeria (OAAN), Dr. Sola Akinsiku, expressed reservations about the fee schedule, saying the association supports fairness and policies that reflect Nigeria’s current economic realities. Represented by the association’s Treasurer, Mr. Chinweuba Nwagu, he called for further consultations to avoid hurting the outdoor advertising business in the state.
Similarly, the Abia State Chairman of the African Democratic Congress (ADC), Mr. Kalu Kalu, questioned the legality of the fees. He said the party would comply if the charges were backed by law but argued that if they contradict the Electoral Act or existing court rulings, they should be withdrawn.
Kalu also referenced Supreme Court judgments, which he said assigned the responsibility for collecting such advertising fees to local governments, warning that any law requiring a presidential candidate to pay billions of naira nationwide for outdoor advertising could face legal challenges.
Meanwhile, the Special Adviser to Governor Alex Otti on Investments and Public-Private Partnership, Chief Green Amankwe, reaffirmed the administration’s commitment to building a cleaner, safer and more investment-friendly Abia State. He urged stakeholders to ensure political campaigns promote peace, unity and responsible public engagement.
Source: NAN.
