The Peoples Democratic Party and the African Democratic Congress in Kwara State have rejected the N100 million political advertising permit fee introduced by the Kwara State Signage and Advertisement Agency, warning that the charge could make political participation increasingly dependent on financial strength.
The parties criticised the new fee structure at a stakeholder meeting organised by the agency in Ilorin, where the campaign advertising regulations for the 2027 elections were presented.
Under the new schedule, presidential candidates are expected to pay N100 million for campaign advertising permits, while governorship candidates will pay N50 million. Senatorial, House of Representatives and House of Assembly candidates are to pay N30 million, N10 million and N2 million respectively.
The Kwara PDP said it was not opposed to legitimate regulation of political advertising but questioned the legal basis for the charges and the process through which the amounts were determined.
The party’s Publicity Secretary, Olusegun Adewara, argued that regulatory authority should not be used to impose excessive financial obligations on political candidates.
“The existence of regulatory powers does not give public institutions an unlimited licence to impose arbitrary financial burdens on citizens and political candidates,” Adewara said.
The party warned that the charges could disproportionately affect opposition parties and candidates who do not have access to the financial resources available to politicians backed by powerful political structures.
The ADC also rejected the fee, describing the N100 million presidential charge as an obstacle to democratic participation.
The party’s Publicity Secretary, Kabir Basambo, described the policy as “taxation of democracy,” arguing that campaign advertising regulation should not become a financial barrier for candidates seeking to participate in the electoral process.
The ADC further warned that the charges could discourage credible candidates from contesting elections and potentially turn political contests into competitions based largely on financial capacity.
Basambo said the party was prepared to explore lawful avenues, including litigation, if the charges were not withdrawn, while also calling on Governor AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq to intervene.
The opposition parties’ objections come as political activities gather momentum ahead of the 2027 general elections, with parties already mobilising candidates, supporters and campaign structures across Kwara.
The controversy has consequently shifted attention to the cost of political participation and whether campaign advertising regulations can balance the need for orderly public communication with the constitutional right of parties and candidates to compete on a level playing field.
