Campaigns: Abia Govt places N200m, N150m charges on Presidential, Governorship candidates

By Daniel Maduagwu

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

Also, 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, which said that no party is being discriminated against in the advertising policy, said that payment would be payable once and 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 goes contrary to approval standards, including those threatening public safety and peace of the State.

In his speech, the Director in Charge of ABSSAA, Mr Okpara Chinedum John, said that standardisation policies of the agency are responsible for the continuous dismantling of unsafe billboards that pose serious risk to the lives of Abia residents.

Chinedum John said that the agency’s activities go beyond revenue generation and regulation to the promotion of a good image of Abia State in collaboration with ministries and relevant MDAs.

Delivering his keynote address, the Director General, Abia State Bureau of Strategic Communication, Onyebuchi Ememanka, clarified 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 contravenes the provisions of the Nigerian Electoral Act, especially where it affects campaign funds limits and fair play violations.

The Special Guest of Honour and Chief of Staff to Abia State Governor, Pastor Caleb Ajagba, praised the efforts of the Abia State Structure for Signage and Advertising Agency (ABSSAA) for its efforts in regulating the Abia State outdoor advertising space.

The Chief of Staff, who was represented by the Special Adviser to Abia State Governor on Investment Promotion, Public Private Partnership, Chief Jerome Mbaobu Green-Amamkwe, said that the stakeholders’ engagement was apt, considering the State government’s interest in an organised system of doing things.

The event was attended by representatives from the Labour Party (LP), African Democratic Congress (ADC), advertising professionals, officials from the Ministry of Local Government and Chieftaincy Affairs and other professionals.