The Abia State Government has approved a ₦200 million permit fee for presidential candidates seeking to erect campaign billboards, posters and other outdoor advertisements across the state ahead of the 2027 general elections.

The fee structure was announced on Wednesday in Aba by the Abia State Structures for Signages and Advertising Agency (ABSSAA) during a stakeholders’ forum themed “Order in Outdoors: Partnership for Safe Campaigns, Sustainable Revenue and A Cleaner Abia.”

Permit Fees for Political Campaigns

Speaking at the event, ABSSAA’s Head of Strategy, Innovation and Design, Ndubuisi Nwaogwugwu, unveiled the approved charges for political office seekers.

Under the new schedule, governorship candidates will pay ₦150 million, senatorial candidates ₦100 million, House of Representatives candidates ₦50 million, while House of Assembly candidates will pay ₦20 million.

Government Explains Policy

The state government said the initiative is designed to regulate outdoor political advertising, maintain order across the state and ensure equal access to advertising spaces for all political parties that comply with the approved guidelines.

Officials added that the policy is also expected to improve revenue generation and promote a cleaner advertising environment during the electioneering period.

Opposition Trails New Charges

The announcement has, however, attracted criticism from industry stakeholders and political parties.

The Out-of-Home Advertising Association of Nigeria (OAAN) described the fees as excessive and unsustainable, arguing that the charges could discourage political advertising.

Similarly, the Abia State chapter of the African Democratic Congress (ADC) questioned the legal basis for the policy, maintaining that Supreme Court judgments vest the collection of such fees in local government councils rather than state governments.

The development is expected to generate further debate as preparations for the 2027 general elections gather momentum.