The Abia State Structure for Signage and Advertising Agency has announced a new fee structure governing political campaign advertisements in the lead-up to the 2027 general elections. Under the regulatory framework, presidential candidates seeking to erect billboards and deploy outdoor promotional materials across the state will be required to pay a ₦200 million permit fee.
The policy requires major contenders, including President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, Labour Party leader Peter Obi, and former Vice President Atiku Abubakar, alongside all other prospective aspirants, to secure formal approval and authorization from the state agency prior to mounting campaign structures within the jurisdiction of Abia.
The regulatory roadmap was unveiled during the agency's 2026 Stakeholders Engagement Forum held in Aba. Addressing attendees at the forum, the Director of Strategy and Innovation at the agency, Ndubuisi Nwogwugwu, stated that the agency introduced the revised tariff schedule to regulate the outdoor political advertising landscape, enforce environmental standards, and ensure compliance with safety parameters during the upcoming election cycle.
Under the detailed fee structure, governorship candidates will pay ₦150 million for campaign advertising permits. Senatorial candidates are expected to pay ₦100 million, while candidates seeking election into the House of Representatives will pay ₦50 million. Those contesting seats in the Abia State House of Assembly will be required to pay ₦20 million. The agency clarified that the permit fee covers all outdoor publicity activities and campaign advertisement structures throughout the election period.
Nwogwugwu warned that political parties and candidates must adhere strictly to the state's advertising guidelines, emphasizing that any unauthorized or non-compliant campaign structure will be removed. He added that structures that fail safety standards or create public hazards face immediate revocation of permits and dismantlement.
To assist candidates contesting seats in the Abia State House of Assembly who may find the fees prohibitive, the agency introduced a cost-sharing provision allowing legislative aspirants to feature on joint campaign billboards alongside their party's governorship candidate.
Speaking on behalf of the state government, the Director General of the Abia State Bureau of Strategic Communication, Onyebuchi Ememanka, rejected claims that the policy was designed to penalize or restrict opposition parties. He asserted that the fee structure applies uniformly across all political entities, including the ruling party in the state. Ememanka maintained that the administration of Governor Alex Otti has no intention of stifling political expression or curtailing candidate visibility, adding that the regulatory framework was established solely to maintain public order and prevent uncoordinated displays across urban centers.
However, the announcement drew immediate pushback from opposition party leaders present at the engagement forum. The Chairman of the African Democratic Congress in Abia State, Kalu Kalu, rejected the policy, questioning its legal foundation and arguing that the excessive fees impose an unfair burden on smaller political parties with limited campaign financing. Kalu cautioned that high entry barriers risk undermining equitable political participation and run counter to the overarching principles of the Electoral Act.
The regulatory announcement comes against the backdrop of earlier clarifications from the Federal Government regarding premature electioneering activities. The Presidency had previously distanced itself from unauthorized 2027 re-election billboards featuring President Bola Tinubu, Vice President Kashim Shettima, and First Lady Oluremi Tinubu that appeared in various locations nationwide, including Abuja and Kano. In an official statement issued through the Special Adviser to the President on Information and Strategy, Bayo Onanuga, the Presidency directed the groups funding the displays to cease operations immediately, noting that President Tinubu had not authorized any early re-election campaign ahead of the official timetable from the Independent National Electoral Commission. The administration reiterated that its primary focus remains on advancing economic reforms rather than political campaigning.
