WorldStage— As electioneering activities rev up for 2027 general election, the Kogi State Government has officially reviewed downward the controversial fees proposed for outdoor political campaign advertisements.
The decision was announced following an extensive stakeholders’ meeting involving political parties, advertising practitioners, and government representatives held at the Government House in Lokoja.
The drastic reduction follows widespread complaints from opposition political parties, including the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) and the African Democratic Congress (ADC), which had previously condemned the initial pricing structure as excessive and an attempt to stifle opposition politics.
The state government had originally fixed the fees at ₦150 million for presidential candidates, ₦50 million for senatorial candidates, and ₦30 million for House of Representatives contenders.
Speaking to journalists after the deliberations, the General Manager of the Kogi State Signage and Advertisement Agency (KOSSAA), Mr. Richard Osaseyi, explained that the review became necessary after the direct intervention of Governor Usman Ododo, who appealed for leniency in response to grievances raised by various political actors.
Under the newly approved rate structure announced by KOSSAA, presidential campaign permits have been slashed to ₦25 million.
Fees for senatorial candidates have been reduced to ₦20 million, while candidates running for the House of Representatives will now pay ₦10 million.
For closer-to-home contests, House of Assembly candidates are expected to pay ₦1.5 million, and chairmanship hopefuls will pay ₦1 million.
Despite the significant reductions, the state government maintained that compliance with established advertising guidelines remains strictly mandatory.
Mr. Osaseyi emphasized that the regulations are designed to prevent the chaotic proliferation of billboards and posters while generating clean revenue for state development.
The agency has issued a two-week deadline for all political parties and candidates to fully comply with the new outdoor guidelines. KOSSAA warned that strict enforcement measures and penalties would be deployed against any defaulters who fail to clear their permits before mounting promotional materials across the state.
Observers note that the concession by the Ododo’s administration has significantly lowered the political tension in Kogi State as parties prepare for the upcoming local government and general elections.
