By Stephen Simon
Oyo State Governor and presidential candidate of the Allied Peoples Movement, Seyi Makinde, and the party have sued Abia State Governor, Alex Otti, over an alleged ₦200 million fee imposed on presidential candidates seeking to display campaign materials in the state.
The suit, marked HU/214/2026, was filed before the Abia State High Court, Umuahia Judicial Division, on September 17 by the plaintiffs’ lawyer, Musibau Adetunbi, SAN, alongside other members of his legal team.
Joined as defendants are the Abia State Attorney-General, Abia State Signage and Advertisement Agency (ABSAA) and the Abia State House of Assembly.
Makinde and the APM are asking the court to set aside regulations made by ABSAA concerning political campaigns, including the alleged ₦200 million fee or any other amount imposed on presidential candidates.
They are also seeking a perpetual injunction restraining the defendants and their agents from enforcing the fee or removing, defacing, destroying or obstructing their campaign billboards and outdoor advertisements in the state.
The plaintiffs contend that the fee is unconstitutional and inconsistent with provisions of the Electoral Act 2026 and other federal laws governing elections and political campaigns.
They specifically relied on Section 99(2) of the Electoral Act, which prohibits the use of state apparatus or regulatory bodies to the advantage or disadvantage of a political party or candidate.
The claimants further argued that the Independent National Electoral Commission has exclusive authority to make rules and regulations concerning political campaigns, citing provisions of the 1999 Constitution and Section 99(1) of the Electoral Act.
They maintained that although states have powers to regulate outdoor advertising, such powers cannot be exercised in a manner that frustrates or overrides valid federal electoral legislation.
The plaintiffs also linked the alleged fee to the statutory limit on presidential campaign expenditure, arguing that Section 92 of the Electoral Act caps total spending for a presidential election at ₦10 billion.
They contended that if similar billboard charges were imposed across states, the cumulative cost could consume a substantial portion of the campaign spending limit before other election-related expenses are considered.
The suit followed the plaintiffs’ claim that they became aware of the alleged fee while preparing for a nationwide campaign tour covering the 36 states and the Federal Capital Territory.
They urged the court to intervene, arguing that enforcement of the fee would undermine their right to seek public office and the principle of a level playing field for electoral contestants.
