Kogi PDP Rejects N150 Million Campaign Signage Fees, Cites Barrier to Political Participation

The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in Kogi State has voiced strong opposition to the recently approved fees for campaign signage and promotional materials. The party argues that the charges, set by the state government ahead of upcoming local government and general elections, are excessively high and could stifle political engagement.

Kogi PDP Chairman, Mohammed Gambo, stated that while the government has a right to regulate outdoor advertising, these regulations must be reasonable and affordable. He called for a review of the fees and a meeting with registered political parties and other stakeholders to establish a more equitable framework. The current fee structure includes N150 million for presidential candidates, N50 million for senatorial candidates, N30 million for House of Representatives candidates, N5 million for State House of Assembly candidates, N2 million for chairmanship candidates, and N300,000 for councillorship candidates.

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Elections are contests of ideas, service and the will of the people. Government regulation must never become a financial barrier capable of determining who can effectively communicate with the electorate.

Gambo highlighted that the N50 million fee for senatorial candidates represents 10% of the N500 million statutory election spending limit, potentially leaving insufficient funds for other essential campaign activities like rallies, media outreach, and transportation. He stressed that elections should be contests of ideas, not financial barriers.

The PDP also raised concerns about the policy extending to campaign-branded apparel, caps, and privately owned vehicles. The party cited constitutional guarantees of freedom of expression and association, cautioning the government against regulating personal political expression. They urged for an inclusive meeting to ensure fairness and proportionality in the regulations.

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Asking citizens to pay government fees before wearing campaign-branded clothing, displaying political materials on their homes or private property, or branding privately owned vehicles could raise concerns relating to constitutionally protected freedoms.