By Sophia Afolabi
The Allied Peoples Movement (APM) and its presidential candidate, Oyo State Governor Seyi Makinde, have sued Abia State Governor Alex Otti before the state High Court over an alleged N200 million fee for presidential candidates seeking to display campaign materials in the state.
The suit, marked HU/214/2026, was filed at the Abia State High Court, Umuahia Judicial Division, by the plaintiffs’ legal team led by Senior Advocate of Nigeria, Musibau Adetunbi. The Abia State Attorney-General, Abia State Signage and Advertisement Agency (ABSAA) and the state House of Assembly were also joined as defendants.
Makinde and the APM are challenging the legality of the fee, arguing that it contravenes the 1999 Constitution, the Electoral Act 2026 and other federal laws. They want the court to set aside ABSAA regulations imposing the N200 million charge on presidential candidates.
The plaintiffs are also seeking an injunction restraining the defendants and their agents from enforcing the fee or removing, defacing or obstructing their campaign billboards and other outdoor advertisements across the state.
They further want the court to declare the charge unconstitutional and contrary to Section 99(2) of the Electoral Act 2026, which they said prohibits the use of state apparatus or regulatory bodies to favour or disadvantage any political party or candidate.
The APM and Makinde also argued that the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has the exclusive authority to regulate political campaigns, adding that state powers over outdoor advertising should not be exercised in conflict with federal electoral laws.
They relied on Section 92 of the Electoral Act, which they said caps total campaign expenditure for a presidential election at N10 billion nationwide. According to them, similar billboard charges across states could substantially increase the cost of running a presidential campaign.
The claimants said they became aware of the fee while preparing for a nationwide campaign tour covering the 36 states and the Federal Capital Territory.
In an affidavit supporting the suit, Aisha Abdullahi Abubakar, identified as APM’s National Welfare Officer, said enforcement of the fee could affect the plaintiffs’ campaign activities and their ability to seek public office.
Makinde and the APM are asking the court to determine whether ABSAA had the legal authority to impose the fee and whether the regulation is consistent with the Constitution and the Electoral Act 2026. No date has been announced for hearing of the case.
