The presidential candidate of the African Action Congress (AAC), Omoyele Sowore, has criticised Abia State Governor Alex Otti over the state’s newly approved political campaign advertising permit fees ahead of the 2027 general election.
In a post on his X account on Thursday, Sowore described Otti as “one of Nigeria’s biggest political disappointments” and a “massive scam” while reacting to the decision to charge presidential candidates ₦200 million for campaign billboard permits.
The criticism followed an announcement by the Abia State Structures for Signages and Advertising Agency (ABSSAA) during a stakeholders’ forum on political campaign advertising fees. Speaking at the event, the agency’s Head of Strategy, Innovation and Design, Ndubuisi Nwaogwugwu, said the approved fees would apply to all political parties and candidates throughout the election campaign period.
Under the new schedule, presidential candidates will pay ₦200 million for campaign billboard permits, governorship candidates ₦150 million, senatorial candidates ₦100 million, House of Representatives candidates ₦50 million, and State House of Assembly candidates ₦20 million.
Nwaogwugwu explained that the permit fees were approved by the Abia State Government in accordance with the Abia State Structures for Signages and Advertising Agency law and other state regulations governing signage and outdoor advertising.
