Barely a week before the official commencement of election campaigns, some state governments across Nigeria have introduced stringent guidelines, fees and levies for the erection of political billboards, posters and other campaign materials.
The measures, which the affected governments say are aimed at regulating outdoor advertising, protecting public infrastructure and preserving environmental aesthetics, have triggered concerns among opposition parties and political stakeholders, who allege that the charges could financially cripple candidates and restrict political competition ahead of the 2027 general elections.
States including Abia, Anambra, Enugu, Ebonyi, Bauchi and Kano have either announced campaign advertising fees or introduced new restrictions governing the placement of political materials.
In some cases, the charges run into hundreds of millions of naira. This is significantly higher than the prevailing commercial billboard advertising rates, which generally range from about N200,000 to N15 million per month, depending on the location, size and visibility of the billboard.
Critics argue that the new charges could create an uneven playing field, particularly for opposition candidates and political parties with limited financial resources.
Abia Announces N200m Presidential Billboard Fee
In Abia State, the Abia State Signage and Advertising Agency (ABSSAA) announced a campaign advertising fee of N200 million for presidential candidates.
Under the new schedule unveiled at the agency’s 2026 stakeholders’ engagement forum in Aba, governorship candidates are required to pay N150 million, while senatorial candidates will pay N100 million.
House of Representatives candidates are expected to pay N50 million, while State House of Assembly candidates are to pay N20 million.
Head of ABSSAA’s Department of Strategy, Innovation and Design, Ndubuisi Nwaogwugwu, said the schedule applies to candidates of all political parties throughout the approved campaign period.
According to him, the fees were approved by the Abia State Government and are based on the agency’s laws and other legislation regulating signage and advertising in the state.
The announcement has, however, generated strong opposition from political parties.
The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), through its Abia State Publicity Secretary, Jude Udeachara, described the charges as “outrageous, punitive and manifestly anti-democratic.”
Udeachara alleged that the policy was designed to frustrate legitimate campaigns, silence political opponents and deny less financially powerful candidates access to voters.
The PDP also questioned the compatibility of the charges with the campaign expenditure limits provided under the Electoral Act 2026.
The party noted that the statutory spending limits are N10 billion for presidential candidates, N3 billion for governorship candidates, N500 million for senatorial candidates, N250 million for House of Representatives candidates and N100 million for State House of Assembly candidates.
The PDP argued that a N20 million billboard fee for a State House of Assembly candidate alone represents 20 per cent of the candidate’s entire legally permitted election expenditure.
It further calculated that if the N200 million presidential campaign permit fee imposed by Abia were replicated across all 36 states and the Federal Capital Territory, a presidential candidate could spend about N7.4 billion on permits alone.
The party urged the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to intervene and examine the implications of the fees.
Anambra Sets Campaign Advertising Fees
In Anambra State, the Anambra State Signage and Advertisement Agency (ANSAA) has also announced campaign advertising charges based on the political office being contested.
Presidential candidates are required to pay N50 million for outdoor campaign permits, while senatorial candidates are expected to pay N20 million.
House of Representatives candidates will pay N5 million, while State House of Assembly candidates are required to pay N1.5 million.
Local government chairmanship candidates will pay N2.5 million, while councillorship candidates are expected to pay N100,000.
Candidates are also required to obtain permit clearance before erecting billboards, mounting banners or pasting posters in public spaces.
The state government has prohibited campaign posters on public infrastructure, including bridge pillars, strategic poles, government buildings, healthcare facilities and educational institutions.
Enugu Faces Legal Challenge
In Enugu State, the government has reportedly imposed a N150 million fee for candidates seeking to deploy campaign materials, erect or use billboards, or operate branded campaign vehicles.
The policy is being implemented through the Enugu State Structure for Signage and Advertisement Agency (ENSSAA).
The government has justified the policy as part of efforts to regulate environmental aesthetics, prevent the defacement of public infrastructure and increase internally generated revenue.
However, a team of lawyers led by Ben Okolo has approached the court seeking to stop the implementation of the fees.
The lawyers are asking the court to declare the mandatory advertisement charges unconstitutional, arguing that the policy could financially exclude opposition candidates and restrict freedom of expression and democratic participation.
An ADC senatorial candidate in Enugu State, Ogochukwu Onyema, also criticised the directives, describing them as an attempt to intimidate and distract opposition parties.
He alleged that opposition parties were being subjected to restrictions on campaign billboards, posters, public gatherings and the use of public infrastructure.
Ebonyi Restricts Poster Placement
In Ebonyi State, authorities have restricted the placement of campaign posters in certain locations, including public schools, electric poles and flyover bridges.
Offenders reportedly face a fine of N5 million.
Opposition stakeholders, however, have raised concerns about the enforcement of campaign regulations and alleged that some measures could be selectively applied against opposition candidates.
Kano Billboard Fees Linked to Location
In Kano State, political billboard charges are regulated under the Kano State Government Signage Registration Guidelines through the Kano State Advertising and Signage Agency (KASA).
The permit fees depend on factors including location density and the type of billboard structure.
Urban unipole billboard permits can reportedly cost up to N3 million, in addition to processing and site inspection charges.
PRP Accuses Bauchi Government of Double Standards
In Bauchi State, the Peoples Redemption Party (PRP) has accused the state government of applying campaign restrictions selectively.
PRP State Chairman, Abdurrahman Yusuf Muazu, alleged that while opposition parties were being directed to remove campaign materials from public infrastructure, the ruling Allied Peoples Movement (APM) continued to display its logos, colours and insignia on public facilities.
The PRP specifically cited the Kofar Gombe, Kofar Nassarawa and Kofar Ran gates, describing the alleged displays as an abuse of public infrastructure.
The party warned that selective enforcement could undermine fairness and create an uneven political environment ahead of future elections.
It called on INEC to intervene and ensure equal opportunities for all political parties in campaign activities.
Opposition Parties Raise Alarm
Across the South-East, opposition politicians have increasingly criticised the new campaign restrictions.
The PDP’s National Vice Chairman in the zone, Ray Nnaji, described the development as an attempt by some state governments to frustrate opposition parties.
He alleged that some governors were preventing opposition candidates from using public facilities and making it difficult for parties to secure venues for congresses and primaries.
“There is no level playing field,” Nnaji said, arguing that the introduction of multimillion-naira billboard charges would further restrict opposition candidates.
The Abia State Chairman of the African Democratic Congress (ADC), Kalu Kalu, said his party would comply with the charges if they were backed by valid legislation, but argued that any fee not supported by law should be withdrawn.
Similarly, AAC governorship candidate Doris Ogala said she would not pay the N150 million reportedly demanded in Abia, challenging authorities to remove her campaign billboards.
Calls for INEC Intervention
Professor Jehu Onyekwere Nnaji, a Professor of International Law and Global Politics at the University of Kansas Law School in the United States, called on INEC to intervene and ensure that all political parties operate on a level playing field.
He argued that campaign regulations should not be used to restrict legitimate political participation or prevent candidates from reaching voters.
The President of the Global Legislative Organisation for Better Environment, Sam Onuigbo, also criticised what he described as attempts by some state governments to “ambush” the campaign process under the guise of environmental protection.
Onuigbo argued that any regulation of outdoor political campaigns should follow due process and involve adequate consultation with stakeholders.
He also questioned the use of environmental concerns as a basis for restricting open campaign activities in states without established Climate Change Governance Frameworks.
“Election is just five months away. In the absence of a clear Climate Governance Framework, any government pushing up policies against open campaigns in the guise of environmental sanitation and preservation should be seen as ambushing the system,” he said.
With the 2027 elections approaching, the controversy over campaign advertising fees is likely to intensify, particularly as political parties prepare to mobilise supporters and communicate their programmes to voters.
For critics, the central issue is not simply the regulation of billboards and posters but whether the charges and restrictions will guarantee a level playing field—or create financial and administrative barriers that could weaken political competition and democratic choice.
