Reported by: Oahimire Omone Precious | Edited by: Oravbiere Osayomore Promise.
The presidential candidate of the African Action Congress (AAC), Omoyele Sowore, has launched a blistering personal attack on Abia State Governor Alex Otti, describing him as a "massive scam" and one of Nigeria's biggest political disappointments following the state government's announcement of a ₦200 million permit fee for presidential campaign billboards ahead of the 2027 general elections. Sowore made the remark on his X handle on Thursday, July 30, 2026, while reacting to the new fee structure unveiled by the Abia State Structures for Signages and Advertising Agency (ABSSAA) during a stakeholders' forum on Wednesday, July 29.
"Alex C. Otti has become one of Nigeria's biggest political disappointments. @alexottiofr is a massive scam, and the full extent of that scam is still unraveling," Sowore wrote, in a post that has since attracted widespread attention across social media platforms. The criticism followed an announcement by the ABSSAA, which revealed a detailed fee schedule for political campaign advertising permits. According to the agency's Head of Department for Strategy, Innovation and Design, Ndubuisi Nwaogwugwu, the approved permit fees would apply to all political parties and candidates seeking to advertise during the electioneering period across Abia State. Presidential candidates will pay ₦200 million, governorship candidates will pay ₦150 million, senatorial candidates will pay ₦100 million, House of Representatives candidates will pay ₦50 million, and State House of Assembly candidates will pay ₦20 million.
Nwaogwugwu explained that the fees were based on the provisions of the Abia State Structures for Signages and Advertising Agency law and other state laws regulating signage and outdoor advertising. He further stated that the schedule of fees had been approved by the government of Abia State and would apply throughout the approved election campaign period. The decision has sparked outrage among political parties, civil society groups, and aspirants, who have described the charges as exorbitant, anti-democratic, and a deliberate attempt to stifle political participation ahead of the 2027 elections.
The fee structure has also drawn sharp criticism from the Abia State chapter of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), which condemned the charges as excessive, anti-democratic, and a direct attack on political participation. The party accused the Otti administration of using advertising regulations to stifle political participation and called on the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to intervene. The PDP also argued that if all 36 states and the Federal Capital Territory were to replicate Governor Otti's ₦200 million charge, a presidential candidate would be required to spend ₦7.4 billion on permits alone.
The African Democratic Congress (ADC) has also rejected the new outdoor campaign fees, including the ₦200 million charge for presidential candidates and ₦150 million for governorship candidates. The opposition parties have warned that the fees could disenfranchise smaller parties and less wealthy candidates, undermining the principles of fair competition and democratic participation.
Sowore's attack on Governor Otti is not the first time the activist-politician has criticised the Abia governor. In March 2026, Sowore described Otti as a "failure" whose administration was delivering only "half-baked transformation" following a visit to the state. At the time, Sowore argued that many of the projects carried out by Otti were not inclusive. The Abia State Government had previously rebuked Sowore over his criticism, saying he "miscalculated" and should retreat.
The latest controversy over the billboard permit fees has further heightened political tensions in Abia State, with the ruling Labour Party government defending the policy as a necessary measure to regulate political advertising, protect public safety, and generate revenue for the state. The government has maintained that the fees will apply equally to all political parties and candidates without discrimination. However, critics argue that the charges are punitive and designed to discourage political opposition, particularly in a state where the Labour Party is seeking to consolidate its hold on power ahead of the 2027 elections.
Governor Otti, a former banker and Labour Party stalwart who was elected in 2023 on a wave of popular discontent with the PDP, has previously positioned himself as a reformer committed to transparency and good governance. His administration has embarked on several infrastructure projects and reforms aimed at repositioning Abia State. However, the controversial permit fee has cast a shadow over his reformist credentials, with critics accusing him of using the policy to entrench his political dominance rather than to promote fairness and accountability.
As the 2027 general elections approach, the controversy over the Abia State campaign advertising fees is likely to remain a major flashpoint in the national discourse on electoral integrity, political participation, and the role of state governments in regulating political activities. Sowore's characterisation of Governor Otti as a "massive scam" has added fuel to the fire, setting the stage for a prolonged political battle between the AAC presidential candidate and the Abia State government. For now, the state government has shown no indication of reversing the fee structure, while opposition parties and civil society groups have vowed to challenge the policy through legal and political means. The question remains whether the courts, INEC, or public pressure will force a reconsideration of what many have described as a draconian assault on democracy.
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