The 2027 governorship candidate of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Abia State, Chief Eric Opah, has criticised the Abia State Structure for Signage and Advertisement Agency (ABSSAA) over its newly announced campaign advertisement fees for candidates participating in the 2027 general elections, describing the charges as an attempt to stifle political participation and disadvantage opposition parties.
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‎According to Opah, the agency’s new fee structure requires governorship candidates to pay ₦150 million to display campaign posters and banners in approved locations across the state, while senatorial candidates would pay ₦100 million. Candidates for the House of Representatives and the State House of Assembly would be required to pay ₦50 million and ₦20 million respectively.
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‎In a statement, he argued that while government has the responsibility to regulate outdoor advertising, such regulations should not be used to create financial barriers for aspiring political office holders.

‎He maintained that democracy should be driven by ideas, competence and public trust rather than by a candidate’s financial capacity, warning that the proposed charges could undermine the principle of a level playing field in the electoral process.
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‎The APC governorship candidate also accused the state government of departing from the principles it once championed while in opposition.

‎He said the administration had previously criticised the use of state institutions to frustrate political opponents but was now engaging in similar practices by introducing what he described as excessive campaign advertisement fees. According to him, the policy risks creating the perception that the political environment is being skewed in favour of those already in power.
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‎Opah called on Governor Alex Otti and the management of ABSSAA to suspend the policy and engage political parties, civil society organisations and other stakeholders in developing what he described as a fair and transparent framework for regulating campaign advertising.

‎He reiterated his commitment to a peaceful issue-based campaign and urged the government to ensure that public institutions remain impartial and accessible to all political actors.