A chieftain of the African Democratic Congress (ADC), Kenneth Okonkwo, has accused the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) of being behind the high campaign billboard fees recently introduced in Abia State.
He made the allegation on Friday during an appearance on Channels Television’s Sunrise Daily, where he claimed the policy was designed to weaken opposition parties ahead of the 2027 general elections.
Okonkwo alleged that the decision to impose N200 million on presidential candidates and N150 million on governorship candidates for campaign billboard advertisements in Abia was part of a wider political plan to make it difficult for opposition parties to reach voters.
He also accused Governor Alex Otti of allowing the state government to be used in implementing what he described as an APC-backed agenda.
According to the ADC chieftain, the cost of placing campaign billboards across the country would become extremely high if similar charges were introduced in other states. He argued that political parties should have a fair opportunity to present their programmes to Nigerians without facing what he described as excessive financial barriers.
Okonkwo maintained that the development could affect healthy political competition and reduce the ability of opposition parties to campaign effectively. He expressed disappointment that the Abia State Government approved the charges, saying such a policy could limit political participation ahead of the next election cycle.
The controversy followed the decision of the Abia State Structure for Signage and Advertising Agency (ABSSAA), which announced that presidential candidates seeking to use the state’s advertising spaces for the 2027 campaigns would pay N200 million, while governorship candidates would pay N150 million.
The announcement has continued to generate reactions from political stakeholders, with critics questioning the impact of the charges on electoral campaigns, while supporters argue that governments have the authority to regulate outdoor advertising within their jurisdictions.