By Abah Benjamin Eneojoh
Government House, Lokoja | October 13, 2026
The Kogi State Government has reduced its proposed outdoor political advertising fees, lowering the presidential campaign permit from ₦150 million to ₦25 million and the senatorial rate from ₦50 million to ₦20 million.
The General Manager of the Kogi State Signage and Advertisement Agency (KOSSAA), Hon. Osaseyi Richard, announced the revised charges during a stakeholders’ meeting at Government House, Lokoja.
The review followed concerns raised by political parties, candidates, advertising practitioners and other stakeholders about the initial proposals.
Revised Political Advertising Fees
Under the new schedule, House of Representatives candidates will pay ₦10 million, down from ₦30 million. House of Assembly candidates will pay ₦1.5 million instead of ₦5 million, while chairmanship candidates will pay ₦1 million instead of ₦5 million.
| Campaign category | Initial proposed fee | Revised fee | Reduction |
|---|---|---|---|
| Presidential | ₦150 million | ₦25 million | ₦125 million — 83.3% |
| Senatorial | ₦50 million | ₦20 million | ₦30 million — 60% |
| House of Representatives | ₦30 million | ₦10 million | ₦20 million — 66.7% |
| House of Assembly | ₦5 million | ₦1.5 million | ₦3.5 million — 70% |
| Local government chairmanship | ₦5 million | ₦1 million | ₦4 million — 80% |
Source: Rates announced by KOSSAA. Percentage reductions are calculated from the initial proposals.
The charges concern outdoor campaign advertising permits, rather than fees for obtaining nomination forms or appearing on the ballot.
KOSSAA Explains Basis for Charges
Richard said the initial assessment reflected the agency’s regulations, the range of campaign materials requiring assessment and the anticipated cost of managing outdoor advertisements.
He said those responsibilities included removing campaign materials after the elections.
The agency maintained that compliance with its advertising regulations remained compulsory despite the reductions.
The revised senatorial charge will be relevant to campaigns taking shape across Kogi, including those discussed in reports on the Kogi West senatorial contest and the APC’s selection for Kogi East.
Government Says Guidelines Protect Public Spaces
Commissioner for Information and Communications, Hon. Kingsley Femi Fanwo, said political advertising was a legitimate part of democratic participation but should comply with the law and protect public facilities, residents and the environment.
Fanwo was represented by the ministry’s Permanent Secretary, Mr Awulu Tijani David.
Speaking on the theme, “Promoting Responsible Political Advertising, Environmental Order and Democratic Accountability,” he said the guidelines were intended to establish transparent procedures rather than suppress political expression.
The government said the revised framework sought to accommodate campaign activities while maintaining public safety and environmental order.
Political preparations extend beyond advertising, with INEC recruiting election personnel and parties organising around an electorate detailed in the state-by-state voter register breakdown.
ADP Candidate Raises Campaign Funding Concerns
Chief Okpanachi Nicolas Bala, the Action Democratic Party senatorial candidate for Kogi East, appealed for consideration of candidates with limited financial resources.
He said campaign financing was already difficult for many contestants and urged the authorities to take those constraints into account.
The review comes amid wider preparations reflected in party senatorial candidate selections ahead of 2027.
The account of the meeting did not specify a compliance deadline or provide details of payment procedures.
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