The Abia State Government has announced that presidential candidates seeking to campaign through billboards and posters during the 2027 election season will be required to pay N200 million for a political campaign advertising permit.
The announcement was made on Wednesday in Aba by the Abia State Structures for Signages and Advertising Agency (ABSSAA) during a stakeholders' forum on political campaign advertising fees.
According to Ndubuisi Nwaogwugwu, Head of Strategy, Innovation and Design at ABSSAA, the approved permit fees apply to candidates of all political parties contesting elections in the state. The fees are based on existing Abia State laws regulating signage and advertising.
Under the approved schedule, presidential candidates will pay N200 million, governorship candidates N150 million, senatorial candidates N100 million, House of Representatives candidates N50 million, and House of Assembly candidates N20 million.
Nwaogwugwu said the fees will apply throughout the officially approved election campaign period.
The Director-General of the Strategic Communications Bureau, Onyebuchi Ememanka, described the permit schedule as non-negotiable. He said the policy is intended to promote public safety, maintain the aesthetics of cities, and preserve the integrity of the democratic process.
Ememanka stated that the administration of Governor Alex Otti is committed to providing an enabling environment for political participation through clear regulations, transparent processes, and equal access for all candidates and political parties.
He added that the state government would not discriminate against any political party or candidate and that all contenders would be allowed to use outdoor advertising spaces once they comply with the established guidelines and pay the applicable fees.
According to him, adherence to the regulations could provide a model for orderly and sustainable political campaign practices in the state.
However, the Out-of-Home Advertising Association of Nigeria (OAAN) expressed concerns over the approved rates.
Speaking at the forum, OAAN President Sola Akinsiku said the association supports fairness and collaboration but considers the proposed fees unsustainable in the current economic climate.
He warned that high advertising costs could discourage political campaign advertising, limit voter education efforts, increase voter apathy, and potentially affect democratic participation.
The permit fee policy is expected to apply to all presidential hopefuls in the 2027 elections, including candidates from major and smaller political parties who intend to use billboards and posters for campaign activities in Abia State.
