The Kogi State Government has fixed ₦150 million as the campaign advertising fee payable by presidential candidates seeking to display billboards, posters and other political promotional materials across the state ahead of the 2027 general elections.
Under the new fee structure, senatorial candidates are required to pay ₦50 million, while candidates for the House of Representatives will pay ₦30 million. State House of Assembly candidates are to pay ₦5 million.
The Commissioner for Information and Communications, Kingsley Fanwo, announced the rates in Lokoja following a stakeholders’ meeting involving the government and operators in the signage and advertising industry.
According to Fanwo, the approved fees extend beyond conventional billboards and posters to other campaign promotional materials, including branded T-shirts, caps and related political advertising materials.
The arrangement is expected to apply to political campaigns ahead of both the 2027 general elections and the October 2026 local government elections in the state.
For the local government polls, chairmanship candidates are required to pay ₦2 million, while councillorship candidates will pay ₦300,000 for campaign signage and related promotional activities.
Fanwo said the government arrived at the rates after reviewing campaign advertising charges applicable in other states, maintaining that the amounts were considered affordable when measured against the scale and reach of political campaigns.
He explained that the policy was intended to regulate political advertising, ensure compliance with existing signage laws and improve internally generated revenue.
The commissioner warned political parties, candidates, campaign organisations and their supporters against erecting billboards or displaying other regulated campaign materials without first paying the prescribed fees and obtaining the necessary approvals.
He said individuals and organisations that assist candidates or political parties in circumventing the regulations could also face sanctions, including prosecution.
Fanwo stressed that enforcement would apply equally to candidates of all political parties, including the ruling All Progressives Congress.
“In Kogi, APC is the ruling party, but that does not exempt any APC candidate from complying with the law,” he said.
“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.
The commissioner said the Kogi State Signage and Advertisement Agency, which operates under the Ministry of Information and Communications, would coordinate implementation and enforcement of the campaign advertising regulations.
The commissioner said the Kogi State Signage and Advertisement Agency, which operates under the Ministry of Information and Communications, would coordinate implementation and enforcement of the campaign advertising regulations.
He assured political parties and candidates that enforcement would be carried out without discrimination, irrespective of political affiliation.
General Manager of KOSSAA, Richard Osaseyi, said full enforcement of the regulations would commence next week.
Osaseyi advised political parties, candidates, campaign organisations and outdoor advertising operators to register with the agency and secure the required permits before mounting campaign materials.
He warned that billboards, posters and other campaign advertisements displayed without approval would be removed, while those responsible would face applicable sanctions.
KOSSAA has previously insisted that political parties and other organisations obtain approval before mounting outdoor advertisements in the state, saying regulation of the sector forms part of its mandate to improve compliance and revenue generation.