The Abia State division of the All Progressive Congress (APC) has formally denounced the campaign fee structure introduced by the Abia State Structure for Signage and Advertising Agency (ABSSAA) regarding the upcoming 2027 elections. Under the new mandate, presidential candidates face a N200 million fee, while gubernatorial aspirants must pay N150 million. Senate bids are set at N100 million, with House of Representatives and House of Assembly candidates required to pay N50 million and N20 million, respectively.
Uche Aguoru, the APC Publicity Secretary, argued that these fees are a strategic effort by the state government to use public institutions to pressure opposition members and drain their finances. The party stated that such measures turn democracy into a commodity, limiting the race to affluent individuals or those with state backing. Furthermore, the APC highlighted that these costs appear to conflict with the campaign expenditure limits established under Section 92 of the 2026 Electoral Act.
The People’s Democratic Party (PDP) has similarly condemned the policy. Jude Udeachara, speaking for the PDP, described the mandate as an attempt to sell political access to the wealthiest bidders. Labeling the policy as political extortion rather than genuine regulation, the PDP has joined the call for the government to retract these financial requirements immediately.
