Oyo State Governor Seyi Makinde and the Allied Peoples Movement have sued Abia State Governor Alex Otti and other officials over an alleged N200m campaign fee imposed on presidential candidates seeking to display campaign materials in the state.
The suit, filed at the Abia State High Court and marked HC/214/2026, challenges the fee as allegedly inconsistent with the Constitution, the Electoral Act 2026 and other relevant laws. The plaintiffs are represented by senior lawyer Musibau Adetunbi.
The defendants include Otti, the Abia State Attorney-General, the Abia State Signage and Advertisement Agency, and the state House of Assembly. The claimants are asking the court to set aside regulations made by the signage agency concerning political campaigns, including the N200m fee.
Makinde and the APM also want an injunction preventing the defendants and their agents from enforcing the campaign and signage fees or removing, defacing, destroying or obstructing their political billboards and outdoor advertisements across Abia.
The plaintiffs argued that the fee contravenes provisions of the Electoral Act 2026 governing campaign expenditure and political advertising. They said Section 99 prohibits the use of state apparatus or regulatory bodies to advantage or disadvantage any political party or candidate, while Section 92 caps presidential campaign expenditure at N10bn nationwide.
They argued that if other states and the Federal Capital Territory imposed similar charges, the costs would make compliance with the national campaign spending limit difficult. They also contended that although states can regulate outdoor signage, such powers cannot be exercised in a manner that conflicts with federal legislation governing elections.
The plaintiffs further argued that provisions of the 1999 Constitution render state laws and administrative regulations void to the extent of their inconsistency with Acts of the National Assembly. They asked the court to intervene, claiming the fee could affect the APM candidate’s ability to campaign and seek public office.
