Cross River Opposition Rejects N150m Campaign Fee

(Cross River Map. Photo Credit: THISDAYLIVE)

Opposition parties in Cross River State have flatly refused to pay tariffs imposed on them before displaying campaign materials such as posters and banners on the streets.

On Tuesday, a coalition of 12 political parties led by the Coalition of Opposition Political Parties (COPP) filed a rejection notice to the Cross River State Signage and Advertisement Agency (CRISSAA), calling the price as excessive, anti-democratic, and inappropriate.

COPP, in a statement signed by the State Chairmen of the ZLP, YPP, PRP, ACCORD, AAC, BOOT, NNPP, SDP, APM, PDP, LP, YP, ADC, and others, declared that the fees would make political participation inaccessible to opposition and less financially endowed candidates.

According to the document, CRISSAA is requesting that the parties pay N150 million for presidential candidates’ campaign materials, N100 million for governorship candidates, N50 million for senatorial candidates, N25 million for House of Representatives candidates, and N5 million for House of Assembly candidates’ campaign advertisements.

According to COPP, “these tariffs are outrageous, excessive, insensitive, and completely unacceptable,” claiming that political advertising is an important component of democratic participation because it allows candidates and political parties to communicate their policies, programs, and messages to voters.

The coalition cautioned that such costs would disproportionately damage opposition parties, independent candidates, and citizens trying to engage in the democratic process.

“Democracy thrives when political parties are able to compete on the strength of their ideas, programs, competence and acceptance by the people not on the depth of their financial resources” , the coalition of parties said.

The opposition coalition asked explanation on the proposed levies’ legal and regulatory basis, the methodology used to calculate the amounts, why political parties were not contacted prior to tariff installation, and the services and duration covered by each charge.

The organization also voiced worry that if the planned tariff regime is allowed to stay, it will create an uneven political playing field ahead of the 2027 elections.

The parties therefore called on the Cross River State government and CRISSAA to immediately suspend and review the proposed charges pending consultations with all registered political parties and other stakeholders.

The group urged CRISSAA and the state government to engage political parties in constructive dialogue rather than impose measures that could generate tension in the political space.

COPP also called on civil society organisations, professional bodies, religious organisations, youth and women groups and other Cross River people to demand what it describes as a transparent, equitable and accessible political environment ahead of the 2027 elections.