PDP Urges INEC To Intervene As Abia Govt Sets N200m Ad Permit For Presidential Candidates Ahead Of 2027

The Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, in Abia State has called on the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, to intervene over what it described as “outrageous” campaign advertising charges introduced by the Abia State Structures for Signage and Advertising Agency, ABSSAA.

The demand comes 24 hours after the Abia State Government announced new rates for campaign advertising permits for the 2027 general elections during a stakeholders’ forum in Aba on Wednesday.

According to the state government, the fees are non-negotiable and apply to all political parties. They are intended to regulate outdoor advertising, promote public safety and ensure equal access to campaign spaces.

The approved rates are:
– Presidential candidates: N200 million
– Governorship candidates: N150 million
– Senatorial candidates: N100 million
– House of Representatives candidates: N50 million
– State House of Assembly candidates: N20 million

In a statement issued Thursday by the State Publicity Secretary, Jude Udeachara, the PDP accused the Alex Otti administration of using signage regulations to stifle political participation.

The party described the charges as “punitive”, “anti-democratic” and “political extortion dressed in administrative language.”

“This is not regulation. It is political extortion dressed in administrative language,” the statement read.

“It is a cynical and oppressive revenue scheme apparently designed to frustrate legitimate campaigns, silence political opponents and deny less financially endowed candidates the opportunity to communicate with the Abia electorate.”

The PDP argued that the fees undermine campaign finance limits prescribed under the Electoral Act 2026.

According to the party, “The N20 million fee for State Assembly candidates is 20% of the N100 million maximum spending limit.

– The N50 million and N100 million fees for House of Reps and Senate candidates also represent 20% of their respective statutory limits.

– While the N150 million governorship fee is 5% of the N3 billion ceiling, candidates would still bear extra costs for producing and erecting materials.

The party added that if all 36 states and the FCT adopted Abia’s N200 million presidential permit fee, the total would hit N7.4 billion — about 74% of the N10 billion presidential spending limit.

“This exposes the absurdity, recklessness and anti-democratic character of the Alex Otti administration’s policy,” PDP said.

The opposition also questioned whether the government was deliberately forcing candidates to breach spending limits or was unaware of the Electoral Act provisions. It accused the administration of using signage regulation as a “backdoor mechanism” to suppress opposition parties.

The PDP urged INEC to take immediate notice and caution Governor Otti and the Abia State Government against policies capable of undermining a level playing field ahead of 2027.

“We therefore call on the Independent National Electoral Commission to take immediate notice of this dangerous development and caution Governor Alex Otti and the Abia State Government against policies capable of undermining a level playing field ahead of the 2027 elections,” the party said.

The PDP also called on civil society organisations, election observers, the Nigerian Bar Association, NBA, and the media to resist what it termed an attempt to “monetise political expression.”

The party demanded the immediate withdrawal of the advertising charges, insisting that regulatory fees should only cover administrative costs and not be used as a tool for political exclusion.