2027: ADC kicks as Abia slams ₦200m campaign fee on presidential candidates

The African Democratic Congress, ADC, has rejected the campaign advertising fees imposed on candidates by the Abia State Structures for Signage and Advertisement Agency, ABSSAA.

Under the new fee regime, presidential candidates will pay ₦200 million, while governorship candidates will pay ₦150 million for outdoor campaign advertising in the state.

Senatorial candidates are required to pay ₦100 million, while House of Representatives and House of Assembly candidates will pay ₦50 million and ₦20 million respectively.

Abia ADC Chairman, Kalu Kalu Agu, protested against the charges when the agency unveiled them in Aba on Wednesday.

Agu, who attended the event alongside the ADC House of Assembly candidate for Arochukwu Constituency, Francess Ogbonnaya Tabitha, described the fees as outrageous.

He questioned whether the charges complied with the campaign expenditure limits provided under the Electoral Act.

“Has it not exceeded the election expenses that are provided by the Electoral Act?” Agu asked.

The ADC chairman warned that the fees could weaken opposition candidates financially and undermine fair competition during the 2027 general elections in Abia.

He urged ABSSAA to review the charges and adopt rates that political parties and their candidates could afford.

Agu also warned the agency against introducing policies that could conflict with the Electoral Act or give the ruling party an advantage over opposition parties.

ABSSAA, however, dismissed claims that the policy was targeted at any political party.

The agency maintained that the fees would apply equally to all parties and candidates participating in the 2027 elections.