Abia PDP Rejects ABSSAA Campaign Advertising Fees, Accuses Otti Government of Political Extortion

The Abia State chapter of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has strongly condemned the campaign advertising fees announced by the Abia State Structures for Signage and Advertising Agency (ABSSAA), describing the policy as oppressive, anti-democratic, and a deliberate attempt to frustrate opposition parties ahead of the 2027 general elections.

In a statement issued on Thursday by the party’s State Publicity Secretary, Sir Jude Udeachara, the PDP alleged that the administration of Governor Alex Otti was using state institutions to erect financial barriers against political participation.

The party was reacting to ABSSAA’s recently announced campaign advertising charges, which require presidential candidates to pay ₦200 million, governorship candidates ₦150 million, senatorial candidates ₦100 million, House of Representatives candidates ₦50 million, and State House of Assembly candidates ₦20 million to display campaign materials on approved advertising structures across Abia State.

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According to the PDP, the charges amount to “political extortion dressed in administrative language” and represent an attempt to commercialise democracy by making political participation accessible only to wealthy candidates and parties with access to substantial financial resources.

The opposition party argued that while governments have the authority to regulate outdoor advertising, such regulations must not be transformed into instruments for suppressing political competition or limiting the visibility of opposition candidates.

The PDP further contended that the fees are inconsistent with the campaign finance framework established under the Electoral Act, noting that the charges would consume significant portions of the legally permitted election expenditure ceilings for various categories of candidates.

According to the party, a ₦20 million advertising fee for a State House of Assembly candidate represents 20 per cent of the ₦100 million campaign spending limit prescribed by law for such candidates.

Similarly, it argued that the ₦50 million charge for House of Representatives candidates and the ₦100 million fee for senatorial candidates also represent 20 per cent of their respective statutory expenditure limits.

The PDP maintained that if similar advertising fees were imposed across all states of the federation, a presidential candidate could spend a substantial percentage of the legally permitted campaign budget on advertising permits alone before funding other legitimate campaign activities.

Describing the policy as unreasonable and discriminatory, the party questioned whether the Abia State Government had adequately considered the implications of the Electoral Act before approving the charges.

The statement warned that the policy could discourage credible aspirants with limited financial resources from contesting elections while strengthening the influence of money in the political process.

The PDP also expressed concern that the use of signage regulations to impose what it described as prohibitive fees could undermine political equality and create an uneven playing field ahead of the 2027 elections.

The party called on the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to examine the implications of the policy and engage the Abia State Government to ensure that campaign advertising regulations do not undermine free and fair political competition.

It also appealed to civil society organisations, election observers, the Nigerian Bar Association, and other stakeholders to oppose any measure capable of restricting democratic participation through excessive financial requirements.

While demanding the immediate withdrawal of the fee regime, the PDP insisted that any legitimate advertising charges should reflect only the actual administrative cost of regulation and should not become a tool for political exclusion or revenue generation.

The party reaffirmed its commitment to pursuing all lawful political and legal options to protect the rights of its members and candidates, maintaining that Abia’s democratic space must remain open to all political parties irrespective of their financial strength.