Omoyele Sowore, the African Action Congress presidential candidate, has publicly denounced Abia State Governor Alex Otti. He labeled the governor a significant fraud after the state introduced steep permit fees for political campaign advertisements.
Sowore shared his disapproval on X this Thursday, reacting to news that presidential candidates must pay ₦200 million for billboard permits for the 2027 elections. He stated that Otti is one of the nation’s primary political letdowns and alleged that the scope of this deception is still unfolding.
The controversy stems from a recent Stakeholders Forum organized by the Abia State Structures for Signages and Advertising Agency (ABSSAA). During the event, department head Ndubuisi Nwaogwugwu confirmed the new fee structure. Under these regulations, presidential hopefuls are charged ₦200 million, while those running for governor face a ₦150 million fee. Senate candidates are expected to pay ₦100 million, with House of Representatives and State Assembly candidates charged ₦50 million and ₦20 million respectively.
Nwaogwugwu maintained that these charges were sanctioned by the state government and align with existing legislation governing outdoor advertising and signage within Abia State.
