Makinde, APM Challenge Abia’s ₦200m Presidential Campaign Billboard Fee in Court
E-ISSN: 2354-4481
By Ikonne Martha Chioma
Oyo State Governor and presidential candidate of the Allied Peoples Movement (APM), Seyi Makinde, and the party have filed a lawsuit challenging an alleged ₦200 million campaign advertising fee imposed on presidential candidates seeking to display campaign billboards and other outdoor materials in Abia State.
The suit, marked HU/214/2026, was filed on September 17, 2026, before the Abia State High Court, Umuahia Judicial Division. Makinde and the APM are represented by a legal team led by Senior Advocate of Nigeria, Chief Musibau Adetunbi.
Named as defendants are Abia State Governor, Alex Otti; the State Attorney-General; the Abia State Signage and Advertisement Agency (ASAA); and the Abia State House of Assembly.
The plaintiffs are asking the court to set aside regulations made by the state signage agency relating to political campaign advertising, including the alleged ₦200 million fee imposed on presidential candidates.
They are also seeking a perpetual injunction restraining the defendants and their agents from enforcing the disputed fee or removing, defacing, destroying or obstructing the placement of their campaign billboards and outdoor advertisements across the state.
In their case, Makinde and the APM argued that the fee is inconsistent with the 1999 Constitution, the Electoral Act 2026 and other relevant federal laws.
They specifically relied on Section 99(2) of the Electoral Act 2026, arguing that the provision prohibits the use of state apparatus or regulatory bodies in a manner that gives an advantage or disadvantage to a political party or candidate in an election.
The plaintiffs also cited constitutional provisions and argued that the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has the statutory responsibility to make rules and regulations governing political campaigns for elections.
According to their argument, although state authorities have responsibilities relating to outdoor signage and advertising, those powers cannot be exercised in a manner that conflicts with federal electoral legislation.
The plaintiffs further referred to Section 92 of the Electoral Act 2026, which provides a ₦10 billion limit for total expenditure by a presidential candidate during an election campaign. They argued that if similar charges were imposed by other states, billboard and outdoor advertising fees could consume a significant portion of the statutory campaign expenditure limit before other expenses are considered.
Such expenses, according to the plaintiffs, include transportation, media advertising, venue hire, security and payments to campaign agents.
The suit reportedly followed the plaintiffs' discovery of the disputed fee while preparing for a nationwide campaign tour covering the 36 states and the Federal Capital Territory.
An affidavit supporting the case was deposed to by Aisha Abdullahi Abubakar, identified as the APM's National Welfare Officer. The plaintiffs maintained that the disputed charge could affect their ability to conduct campaign activities in Abia State.
The fee schedule attributed to the Abia State Signage and Advertisement Agency reportedly places the charge for presidential campaign advertising at ₦200 million, with other categories of political candidates also subject to separate fees.
Makinde and the APM have therefore asked the court to determine whether the regulations and the disputed fee are valid under the Constitution and applicable electoral laws.
They are seeking six questions for determination and eight principal reliefs, including declarations that the ₦200 million charge is unconstitutional, inconsistent with federal legislation and therefore null and void.
The defendants' response and the court's eventual determination will determine whether the disputed campaign advertising fee can be enforced against presidential candidates seeking to place campaign materials in Abia State.
No judicial determination on the substantive issues had been reported as of the time of filing this report.
