…Ogugu PDP candidate says billboards do not win elections, vows to channel campaign resources into education, healthcare and youth empowerment rather than expensive signage.
The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) candidate for Ogugu State Constituency, Hon. Michael Samuel Idoko, has strongly condemned the Kogi State Government’s decision to impose a N5 million campaign signage fee on State House of Assembly candidates ahead of the 2027 general elections, describing the policy as anti-democratic, anti-people and a deliberate attempt to commercialise the electoral process.
Reacting to the announcement by the Commissioner for Information and Communications, Hon. Kingsley Fanwo, that House of Assembly candidates would pay N5 million for billboards and other campaign materials, Idoko said the policy revealed what he described as a disturbing disconnect between the government and the realities faced by ordinary Kogi citizens.
“If Kogi State were not unfortunate to be governed by leaders who appear disconnected from the suffering of the people, what makes a commercial billboard different from a political billboard? How exactly does a billboard win votes?” he asked.
Idoko argued that elections are won through grassroots engagement, credibility, service delivery and public trust, not through giant signboards mounted along highways.
“History has repeatedly shown that many candidates have won elections without erecting a single billboard. Votes come from the hearts of the people, not from painted metal structures,” he said.
The PDP candidate stated that the N5 million being demanded from State Assembly candidates could have a far greater impact if invested directly in the welfare of constituents.
“With N5 million, I can pay school fees for indigent students, support widows, empower struggling youths through small businesses, provide medical assistance for vulnerable families and improve community welfare in Ogugu. Asking candidates to spend such money on billboards while many citizens cannot afford food, medication and transportation is morally indefensible,” he said.
Idoko also questioned the government’s claim that the levy was intended to generate revenue and regulate political advertising.
“Government exists to create opportunities for citizens, not to turn democracy into a revenue-generating venture. This policy sends a dangerous message that participation in politics is reserved for the wealthy,” he added.
He noted that many young aspirants, women and grassroots politicians would be discouraged from contesting elections if such financial barriers were allowed to stand, warning that democracy would suffer when access to public office is determined by the ability to pay excessive administrative charges.
The PDP flag bearer further challenged the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) in Kogi State to explain how imposing heavy campaign fees aligns with its repeated claims of being a people-oriented government.
“A government that truly believes in the people would reduce the cost of political participation, not increase it. Instead of fixing rural roads, supporting farmers, improving schools and strengthening healthcare, the administration appears more interested in taxing democratic expression,” he stated.
Idoko called on civil society organisations, political parties, youth groups and other democratic stakeholders to reject what he described as an unjustifiable financial burden on candidates.
He urged the Kogi State Government to immediately review the policy and adopt a more reasonable framework that would not punish political participation.
“Kogi people need jobs, roads, healthcare, education and economic relief, not outrageous billboard charges. Democracy should never become a luxury reserved for a privileged few,” Idoko said.
He reaffirmed his commitment to running a people-centred campaign focused on direct engagement with communities across Ogugu State Constituency, insisting that public trust would remain his greatest campaign asset.
“My campaign will be built on service, accessibility and the confidence of the people, not on the size of my billboards,” he added.
