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 elections and the forthcoming local government polls, describing the policy as anti-democratic.
In a statement issued at the weekend, the party’s State Chairman, Abel Emmanuel Monday, said 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 the Commissioner for Information and Communications, Hon. Kingsley Fanwo, 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. The General Manager of the Kogi State Signage and Advertisement Agency (KOSSAA), Mr Richard Osaseyi, has also announced that full enforcement of the policy will begin next week.
But the AAC in Kogi State faulted the policy, arguing 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.
The AAC was particularly concerned that the fees could disproportionately affect opposition parties, insisting that winning elections in 2027 should not be determined by billboards, T-shirts or caps, but by what the electorate perceives as good governance and who they believe can lead them.
“Kogi State belongs to all its citizens, and the political space belongs to all political parties,” the statement read, adding that the party remained committed to defending the right of every citizen and political party to participate freely, fairly and meaningfully in the democratic process.
The party consequently urged the Kogi State Government to withdraw the announced fees and adopt a more reasonable framework that protects public order while preserving democratic participation and political equality.
“Democracy should not be for the highest bidder,” the AAC said.
The state government is yet to respond to the AAC’s position as of press time. Enforcement of the signage fee regime, according to KOSSAA, is expected to begin next week, setting the stage for a potential standoff between the government and opposition parties ahead of the 2027 general elections.
