ADC rejects Abia’s new campaign fees, says policy threatens fair 2027 elections

By Jude Opara

The African Democratic Congress (ADC) has criticised the campaign advertising fees introduced by the Abia State Structure for Signage and Advertising Agency (ABSSAA), describing the charges as excessive and potentially harmful to a level political playing field ahead of the 2027 general elections.
ABSSAA recently announced that presidential candidates would pay N 200 million for outdoor campaign advertising, while governorship candidates would be required to pay N 150 million. The agency also fixed fees of N 150 million for senatorial candidates, N 50 million for House of Representatives candidates and N20 million for House of Assembly candidates.
Reacting to the announcement, Abia State ADC Chairman, Kalu Kalu, questioned the basis for the charges, arguing that they conflict with the campaign expenditure limits provided under the Electoral Act.
Kalu, who attended the unveiling of the new advertising policy alongside the party’s House of Assembly candidate for Arochukwu Constituency, Francess Ogbonnaya Tabitha, warned that the fees could disadvantage opposition parties and undermine fairness in the electoral process.
He urged the state advertising agency to review the charges and adopt more reasonable rates that comply with existing electoral laws.
“Has it not exceeded the election expenses that are provided by the Electoral Act?” Kalu asked while expressing the party’s dissatisfaction with the policy.
However, ABSSAA defended the new fee structure during its presentation in Aba, maintaining that the policy applies equally to all political parties and does not discriminate against any candidate or party.