2027: Kogi Fixes N150m Campaign Signage Fee For Presidential Candidates

The Kogi State Government has approved N150 million as campaign signage and advertising fee for presidential candidates ahead of the 2027 general elections.

Under the new tariff regime, senatorial candidates will pay N50 million, House of Representatives candidates N30 million, while State House of Assembly candidates will pay N5 million for campaign billboards, posters, branded T-shirts, caps and other promotional materials across the state.

The Commissioner for Information and Communications, Hon. Kingsley Fanwo, disclosed this in Lokoja yesterday after a stakeholders’ meeting with operators in the signage and advertising sector.

The approved fees also cover the October 2026 local government elections, with chairmanship candidates to pay N2 million and councillorship candidates N300,000.

Fanwo said the charges were introduced to regulate political advertising, ensure compliance with existing signage laws and boost the state’s revenue.

He explained that the rates followed a peer review of applicable charges in other states, insisting that they were affordable considering the scale and reach of political campaigns.

The commissioner warned that political parties and candidates who erect or display campaign materials without paying the prescribed fees and obtaining the necessary approvals would face sanctions.

He stressed that the regulation applies to all political parties and candidates, including those of the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC).

“In Kogi, APC is the ruling party, but that does not exempt any APC candidate from complying with the law. If you are an APC candidate and you did not pay the prescribed fee before placing your billboards or posters, we will remove them and you will be prosecuted,” Fanwo said.

He said the Kogi State Signage and Advertisement Agency (KOSSAA), under the Ministry of Information and Communications, would coordinate enforcement of the new campaign signage regime.

According to him, the government would ensure that enforcement was carried out fairly and without political discrimination.

Also speaking, the General Manager of KOSSAA, Mr Richard Osaseyi, said full enforcement of the regulations would commence next week.

Osaseyi urged political parties, candidates, campaign organisations and billboard operators to register with the agency and secure the required approvals before erecting or displaying campaign materials.

He warned that unauthorised campaign materials would be removed and offenders sanctioned.