The African Action Congress (AAC), Kogi State Chapter, has condemned the campaign signage fees recently approved by the Kogi State Government ahead of the 2027 general election and the forthcoming local government poll, describing the policy as anti-democratic move.
In a statement issued by Abel Emmanuel, the party’s state chairman, made available to journalists in Lokoja, pointed out that the newly approved charges could shut out grassroots candidates and opposition parties with limited financial resources from effectively participating in the electoral process.
The fees were announced earlier by Kingsley Femi Fanwo, commissioner for Information and Communications, who said the state government approved N150 million for presidential candidates, N50 million for senatorial candidates, N30 million for House of Representatives candidates, N5 million for State Assembly candidates, N2 million for chairmanship candidates, and N300,000 for councillorship candidates. The charges cover campaign signage and related materials to be displayed across the state.
According to Fanwo, the figures were arrived at after a peer review process and are intended to regulate political advertising, ensure compliance, and generate revenue for the state. He warned that any campaign material placed without payment would be removed and offenders prosecuted.
Richard Osaseyi, general manager of the Kogi State Signage and Advertisement Agency (KOSSAA), has also announced that full enforcement of the policy would begin in the new week.
But the AAC in Kogi State faulted the policy, pointing out that democracy is meant to provide a level playing field on which parties and candidates compete on the strength of their ideas, policies, competence and character, not on their financial muscle. The party said excessively high administrative charges could make it difficult for emerging political movements and grassroots candidates to take part meaningfully in elections.
‘A regulation that is financially prohibitive can restrict political competition and reduce the ability of citizens to hear alternative voices before making their electoral choices,’ the party said, warning that KOSSAA risked becoming a mechanism that makes political participation accessible only to the financially powerful.