2027: ADC fumes as Abia govt slams heavy campaign charges on candidates
The African Democratic Congress (ADC) has formally rejected the new campaign fees announced by the Abia State Structure for Signage and Advertising Agency (ABSSAA).
The agency recently established fees of N200 million for presidential candidates and N150 million for governorship candidates. Additionally, the fees set for Senatorial, House of Representatives, and House of Assembly candidates are N150 million, N50 million, and N20 million, respectively.
Kalu Kalu, the Chairman of the ADC in Abia State, raised concerns about these charges during a press briefing on Wednesday, questioning their justification. Accompanied by the ADC House of Assembly candidate for Arochukwu constituency, Francess Ogbonnaya Tabitha, Kalu stated that the substantial fees violate the Electoral Act’s provisions regarding campaign expenditure limits.
He further warned that if the fees are enforced, they could jeopardize the electoral prospects of opposition candidates and compromise fair competition in the upcoming 2027 elections in Abia.
“Has it not exceeded the election expenses that are provided by the Electoral Act?” he asked.
Kalu called on the Abia State agency to reconsider and reduce the fees to reasonable amounts, urging compliance with the Electoral Act.
In defense of the new fees, the ABSSAA stated during the announcement in Aba that its advertising policy does not discriminate against any political party.
