The Kogi State Government has approved N150 million as the fee for presidential candidates seeking to place campaign billboards and other signage in the state ahead of the 2027 general elections and the October 2026 local government elections.
The state Commissioner for Information and Communications, Kingsley Fanwo, disclosed this in Lokoja after a meeting between government officials and operators in the signage and advertising sector.
Fanwo said the charges were introduced to control political advertising, ensure that campaign materials comply with existing signage rules and raise funds for development across the state.
Under the new arrangement, presidential candidates will pay N150 million for campaign billboards, while senatorial candidates are expected to pay N50 million. Candidates contesting House of Representatives seats will pay N30 million, while State House of Assembly candidates will pay N5 million.
For the local government elections, chairmanship candidates will pay N2 million for the placement of campaign signage, while councillorship candidates will pay N300,000.
The announcement has, however, drawn opposition from the Kogi State chapter of the Peoples Democratic Party, which rejected the fees as too high and unfair to political candidates.
The PDP said it accepted that the government had the right to regulate outdoor advertising and control the use of public spaces. However, the party argued that the cost of such regulation should not make it difficult for candidates and political parties to campaign.
The party’s state chairman, Mohammed Gambo, said the charges could place a heavy financial burden on candidates, particularly those running for the Senate.
He pointed to the N50 million fee for senatorial candidates, noting that the amount represents 10 per cent of the N500 million campaign spending limit provided for senatorial candidates under Section 92(4) of the Electoral Act 2026.
According to the PDP, candidates still have to fund other campaign activities, including rallies, transportation, media publicity, campaign offices, logistics and meetings with voters.
The opposition party argued that the cost of political advertising should be affordable enough to allow candidates from different financial backgrounds to communicate their plans and policies to voters.
The PDP maintained that government regulations should not become a financial barrier that limits political participation or gives an advantage to candidates with greater financial resources.
The controversy comes as political parties prepare for the 2027 general elections, with campaigns for the presidential and National Assembly elections expected to begin on August 19.