Oyo State Governor Seyi Makinde and the Allied Peoples Movement (APM) have dragged Abia State Governor Alex Otti before the state High Court over a N200 million fee allegedly imposed on presidential candidates seeking to display campaign materials in Abia.
The suit, filed on September 17 at the Umuahia Judicial Division, challenges the legality of the campaign signage charge and asks the court to prevent its enforcement. A similar report on the suit was published by Vanguard on September 20.
Makinde, who is the APM presidential candidate, and the party listed the Abia State Attorney-General, Abia State Signage and Advertisement Agency and the State House of Assembly as defendants.
The plaintiffs are asking the court to set aside regulations made by the signage agency concerning political campaigns, particularly the N200 million charge, and to permanently restrain the defendants from removing, destroying or obstructing their campaign billboards and outdoor advertisements in the state.
They argued that the fee conflicts with the Constitution and the Electoral Act 2026, particularly provisions they said protect political candidates from the use of state regulatory bodies to their advantage or disadvantage.
The plaintiffs also relied on the N10 billion nationwide spending limit for presidential campaigns, arguing that imposing similar billboard charges across states could consume a substantial portion of the statutory ceiling before other campaign expenses are considered.
They further contended that although states have authority to regulate outdoor advertising, such powers cannot be exercised in a way that overrides federal electoral legislation.
Makinde and the APM said they became aware of the fee while preparing for a nationwide campaign programme covering the 36 states and the Federal Capital Territory.
They are seeking declarations that the N200 million charge is unconstitutional and invalid, as well as orders preventing its enforcement against their campaign activities.
The case was filed by a legal team led by Senior Advocate of Nigeria Musibau Adetunbi.
The plaintiffs’ supporting affidavit was deposed to by APM National Welfare Officer Aisha Abdullahi Abubakar, who said the disputed charge could affect the party’s ability to conduct its campaign activities in Abia.
No date had been fixed for hearing of the suit at the time of the report.
Makinde, APM sue Otti over N200m Abia campaign fee
