The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) candidate for the Ogugu State Constituency in the Kogi State House of Assembly, Michael Idoko, has rejected the N5m campaign signage fee imposed by the state government on assembly candidates ahead of the 2027 general elections.
He disclosed this in a statement issued in Abuja on Thursday.
Idoko described the levy as anti-democratic and anti-people, arguing that the policy could make political participation increasingly dependent on candidates’ financial capacity.
The Kogi State Government had approved N150m as the official fee payable by presidential candidates for the placement of campaign billboards, posters and other promotional materials across the state.
The government also fixed the charges at N50m for senatorial candidates, N30m for House of Representatives candidates and N5m for State House of Assembly candidates.
The Commissioner for Information and Communications, Kingsley Fanwo, disclosed the approved charges in Lokoja, the state capital, after stakeholders met with operators in the signage and advertising sector.
The charges cover campaign billboards, posters, branded T-shirts, caps and other political promotional materials ahead of the 2027 elections and the October 2026 Local Government polls.
Reacting to the policy, Idoko said it reflected what he described as a disconnect between the government and the economic realities facing ordinary residents, as he queried, “What makes a commercial billboard different from a political billboard? How exactly does a billboard win votes?”
Idoko argued that elections were won through grassroots mobilisation, credibility, service and public trust rather than the number or size of campaign billboards erected by candidates.
“History has repeatedly shown that many candidates have won elections without erecting a single billboard. Votes come from the hearts of the people, not from painted metal structures,” he said.
Idoko said the N5m demanded of assembly candidates could instead be deployed to address constituents’ needs.
“With N5m, I can pay school fees for indigent students, support widows, empower struggling youths through small businesses, provide medical assistance for vulnerable families and improve community welfare in Ogugu.
“Asking candidates to spend such money on billboards while many citizens cannot afford food, medication and transportation is morally indefensible,” he said.
He also faulted the justification that the levy was meant to generate revenue and regulate political advertising, insisting that government should not turn political participation into a source of revenue.
He warned that the charges could discourage young aspirants, women and grassroots politicians from seeking elective office, saying democracy would suffer if access to public office became largely determined by candidates’ ability to pay.
Idoko also challenged the ruling All Progressives Congress in the state to explain how the levies aligned with its claims of running a people-oriented administration.
He reaffirmed his commitment to running a grassroots campaign focused on direct engagement with voters across Ogugu State Constituency, saying public trust would remain his major campaign asset.
(The Whistler)
