The Abia State Structure for Signage and Advertising Agency has introduced a new fee regime for political campaign advertisements ahead of the 2027 general elections, with presidential candidates required to pay N200 million for permits to erect campaign billboards and other outdoor promotional structures across the state.
The new policy means that prominent presidential hopefuls expected to participate in the election, including President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, Labour Party’s Peter Obi and former Vice President Atiku Abubakar, among other potential contenders, will have to secure approval from the agency before mounting campaign advertisements in Abia.
The fee structure was unveiled on Wednesday at ABSSAA’s 2026 Stakeholders Engagement Forum held in Aba.
Addressing participants at the event, the agency’s Director of Strategy and Innovation, Ndubuisi Nwogwugwu, explained that the charges were introduced to regulate political advertising activities and ensure that outdoor campaign materials comply with approved standards.
Under the new arrangement, governorship candidates are expected to pay N150 million for campaign advertising permits, while senatorial candidates will pay N100 million. Candidates contesting for seats in the House of Representatives will be required to pay N50 million.
Those vying for positions in the Abia State House of Assembly will pay N20 million for campaign advertising approval.
According to ABSSAA, the permit covers political advertisements and outdoor publicity activities throughout the election period.
Nwogwugwu warned political parties and candidates against violating the state’s advertising regulations, stressing that any campaign structure erected without approval would be removed.
He added that billboards and other campaign materials that fail to meet required standards or constitute safety risks would not be permitted.
“The agency will not hesitate to revoke approvals or remove structures that violate laid down regulations,” he said.
The agency also disclosed that State House of Assembly candidates who may be unable to meet the prescribed fee could opt for joint campaign billboards with their party’s governorship candidate.
ABSSAA said the arrangement was designed to enable candidates to maintain campaign visibility while reducing the financial burden associated with individual outdoor advertisements.
Officials at the forum said the policy was aimed at bringing order to the outdoor advertising sector and preventing the indiscriminate placement of political campaign materials during the election season.
Meanwhile, the Director General of the Abia State Bureau of Strategic Communication, Onyebuchi Ememanka, rejected claims that the policy was targeted at opposition parties.
Ememanka stated that the fees applied to all political parties and candidates irrespective of their affiliations, adding that the government had no plan to limit political participation or restrict the visibility of any contestant.
He assured that all parties would be treated equally under the regulations.
“The campaign fees were not designed to stifle Abia opposition voices and visibility,” he stated, adding that the policy affects every political party operating in the state.
However, the announcement attracted criticism from opposition representatives at the forum.
The Abia State Chairman of the African Democratic Congress (ADC), Kalu Kalu, opposed the policy and questioned its legality.
Kalu argued that the fees could impose excessive financial pressure on political parties and candidates, especially smaller parties with fewer resources.
He maintained that the arrangement was inconsistent with the principles of the Electoral Act and could affect fair competition among political actors.
According to him, the fee structure raised concerns over campaign expenditure limits and equal opportunities for all candidates.
Meanwhile, the Presidency had in April 2025 distanced itself from campaign billboards promoting President Bola Tinubu’s alleged 2027 re-election bid that appeared in parts of the country.
At the time, posters and billboards featuring Tinubu, Vice President Kashim Shettima and First Lady Oluremi Tinubu surfaced in Abuja, Kano and other locations, triggering debate over alleged early electioneering activities.
Responding to the development, the Presidency stated that neither the President nor the Vice President had authorised any individual or group to commence campaigns ahead of the 2027 election.
In a statement issued by the Special Adviser to the President on Information and Strategy, Bayo Onanuga, the Presidency directed those responsible for the billboards to immediately discontinue the activities.
The statement read: “Until the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) sets the timetable for the 2027 elections, the President has not endorsed or authorised anyone or any group to mount a 2027 campaign for him through any media channel.”
It further stated: “Therefore, we urgently call on individuals and groups funding this 2027 political campaign through the ongoing deployment of materials on billboards nationwide to cease immediately.”
The Presidency also reiterated that President Tinubu remained focused on governance and implementing ongoing economic and social reforms rather than engaging in election campaigns.
