The Abia State Government has approved a ₦200 million political advertising permit fee for presidential candidates seeking to deploy billboards and campaign posters across the state ahead of the 2027 general elections, a decision that has triggered opposition from advertising industry stakeholders and political parties.
The permit schedule, announced by the Abia State Structures for Signages and Advertising Agency (ABSSAA) during a stakeholders’ forum in Aba, also sets campaign advertising fees at ₦150 million for governorship candidates, ₦100 million for senatorial candidates, ₦50 million for House of Representatives candidates and ₦20 million for State House of Assembly aspirants.
State officials said the charges are backed by existing laws regulating outdoor advertising in Abia and will apply uniformly to candidates from all political parties throughout the approved campaign period. According to Brandspur Politics, the government maintains that the policy is intended to improve the regulation of political advertising while ensuring compliance with established standards.
The Director-General of the Abia State Strategic Communications Bureau said the permit framework is designed to promote orderly political campaigns, improve public safety and preserve the appearance of public spaces during the election season. The state government also insisted that the policy provides equal treatment for all contestants and is not targeted at any political party.
However, the Out-of-Home Advertising Association of Nigeria (OAAN) criticised the fee structure, arguing that the charges are excessive given prevailing economic conditions. The association warned that the high costs could discourage political advertising, reduce voter awareness campaigns and negatively affect businesses operating within the outdoor advertising sector.
The African Democratic Congress (ADC) in Abia also questioned the legal basis for the permit fees, maintaining that any charge imposed on political campaign advertising must be expressly supported by the law establishing the agency. The party further argued that constitutional provisions and previous Supreme Court decisions on outdoor advertising levies should be carefully considered before implementing the policy.
The development has sparked fresh debate over the regulation of political campaign advertising ahead of the 2027 elections, with stakeholders calling for further consultations between the Abia State Government, political parties and industry operators to address concerns over the proposed permit charges.
