Abia govt imposes N200m charges on presidential, N150m on gubernatorial candidates, and similar fees on others

Abia State Structure for Signage and Advertising Agency, ABSSAA, has placed a fee on all 2027 candidates who wish to display their political campaign banners and signposts in the Abia State advertisement space. 

A number of states had earlier imposed similar fees, with opposition parties expressing their objections. 

In Abia State, 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. 
Meanwhile, presidential candidates are to pay two hundred million naira (N200m) to ABSSAA to display their campaign materials. 
 

The policy was unveiled on Wednesday, July 29, 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 (N100m), House of Representatives candidates are to pay fifty million naira (N50m), while those contesting for State House of Assembly seats are to pay twenty million naira (N20m). 

The agency said the payment 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 go contrary to approval standards, including those threatening public safety and peace of the State. 

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 contravened the provisions of the Nigerian Electoral Act, especially where it affects campaign funds limits and fair play.