C’River pegs presidential campaign ads at N150m, govs N100m
Tariffs for Political Advertising Spark Controversy Ahead of 2027 Elections
By Ike Uchechukwu
CALABAR — The Cross River State Signage and Advertisement Agency (CRISSAA) has set a new tariff structure for outdoor campaign advertisements, which has drawn criticism from various political parties ahead of the 2027 general elections.
Under the revised guidelines, presidential candidates are required to pay N150 million, while governorship candidates face a fee of N100 million. Candidates for the senatorial, House of Representatives, and State House of Assembly positions will pay N50 million, N25 million, and N5 million, respectively.
Ubong Sam, Director-General of CRISSAA, announced the tariff during an interactive session with the Inter-Party Advisory Council (IPAC) in Calabar. He urged political parties to remove campaign advertisements within 30 days following the announcement of election results.
Sam stated that the fees are competitive compared to those in neighboring states and emphasized that CRISSAA aims to maintain impartiality in its dealings with political entities. He highlighted the agency’s efforts to regulate advertising spaces and promote fairness, stating, “We have tried to regulate advert space, ensuring that no one undermines the integrity of any party.”
Failure to comply with these regulations may result in the removal of campaign materials, financial penalties, or prosecution by the Advertising Regulatory Council of Nigeria (ARCON). “The fines can exceed one million naira,” Sam warned.
The deadline for the removal of advertisements is set for 30 days post-election results. “Campaign materials become a nuisance after that period,” he added.
IPAC state chairman Engr. Effiom Edet supported the tariffs, calling them reasonable, while Nkoyo Otu, Governor’s Special Adviser on Inter-Party Affairs, assured stakeholders of transparency in the implementation process.
However, opposition emerged from leaders of various political parties. Apostle Edet of the Action Democratic Party and Mike Ojisi, Publicity Secretary of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), condemned the new fees as “outrageous” and a barrier to candidates with limited financial resources. Ojisi, speaking to Vanguard by telephone, stated he was unaware of any prior agreement on the tariffs during IPAC meetings. “This tariff is a plan to prevent others from conducting effective publicity through billboards. It is totally unacceptable,” he asserted.
