The Abia State Government has announced a new schedule of permit fees for outdoor political campaign advertising ahead of the 2027 general elections.
Under the approved rates, presidential candidates seeking to erect billboards, posters and other outdoor campaign materials across the state will be required to pay a one-time permit fee of ₦200 million. Governorship candidates will pay ₦150 million, senatorial candidates ₦100 million, House of Representatives candidates ₦50 million, and State House of Assembly candidates ₦20 million.
The fees were unveiled on Wednesday, 29 July 2026, in Aba during a stakeholders’ forum organised by the Abia State Structures for Signages and Advertising Agency (ABSSAA). The forum, themed “Order in Outdoors: Partnership for Safe Campaigns, Sustainable Revenue and A Cleaner Abia,” brought together government officials, advertising practitioners and political stakeholders.
Ndubuisi Nwaogwugwu, Head of Department for Strategy, Innovation and Design at ABSSAA, stated that the fees apply equally to candidates of all political parties and remain in force throughout the official campaign period, in line with existing state laws regulating outdoor advertising and signage.
Onyebuchi Ememanka, Director-General of the Abia State Strategic Communications Bureau, emphasised that the charges are non-negotiable and are intended to enhance public safety on the roads, protect the environment, and ensure proper regulation of political campaign advertising statewide.
ABSSAA has indicated that unapproved or unsafe campaign materials will be removed. The agency also noted that House of Assembly candidates who are unable to meet the full fee may share billboards with their party’s governorship candidate.
The policy has drawn criticism from some opposition parties, including the African Democratic Congress (ADC), which described the fees as excessive and potentially restrictive of fair competition.
The Abia State Government maintains that the measures are designed to promote orderly, safe and environmentally responsible campaign advertising.