2027: Abia govt imposes N200m, N150m charges on presidential, guber candidates

Abia State Structure for Signage and Advertising Agency, ABSSAA, has placed two hundred million naira (N200m) fees on all 2027 presidential candidates who wish to display their political campaign structures in Abia State advertisement space.

DAILY POST reports that some states had earlier imposed similar fees, with opposition parties raising concerns.

In Abia, governorship candidates of all political parties in the State are to pay one hundred and fifty million naira (N150m) to the ABSSAA as campaign fees.

The policy was unveiled on Wednesday in Aba by the Director of Strategy and Innovation of ABSSAA, Ndubuisi Nwogwugwu during its 2026 stakeholders engagement forum.

Nwogwugwu also announced that senatorial candidates are to pay one hundred million naira, House of Representatives candidates are to pay fifty million naira, while those contesting for State House of Assembly seats are to pay twenty million naira.

The agency said the payment would cover the campaign and election periods.

It, however, said that a House of Assembly candidate who could not pay the approved fee, could run a joint campaign billboard where his picture can be placed under the governorship candidate of his own political party.

The agency also vowed to dismantle or revoke any campaign billboard that go contrary to approval standards, including those threatening public safety and peace of the State.

Also speaking at the event, the Director General , Abia State Bureau of Strategic Communication, Onyebuchi Ememanka, stated that the campaign fees were not designed to stifle Abia opposition voices and visibility, noting that it affects every political party.

However, the Chairman of the African Democratic Congress, ADC, in Abia State, Kalu Kalu who attended the program, 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.