Reported by: Ijeoma G | Edited by: Oravbiere Osayomore Promise.
The Peoples Democratic Party and the African Democratic Congress in Kwara State have rejected the new political campaign advertising permit fees introduced by the Kwara State Signage and Advertisement Agency (KWASAA), describing the charges as excessive, unjustifiable and a deliberate attempt to create a financial barrier against opposition parties ahead of the 2027 general elections.
The two opposition parties made their positions known following a stakeholder meeting organised by the agency in Ilorin on political advertising and campaign communication, where a new permit regime for the 2027 elections was presented. Under the new fee schedule, presidential candidates are required to pay N100 million for campaign advertising permits, governorship candidates N50 million, senatorial candidates N30 million, House of Representatives candidates N10 million, and House of Assembly candidates N2 million.
The Kwara PDP, in a statement issued on Sunday, August 30, 2026, and signed by its State Publicity Secretary, Olusegun Olusola Adewara, said the party or any of its candidates would not submit to any charge that is arbitrary, unlawful or unsupported by a valid and properly disclosed legal instrument. "The PDP will only comply with legitimate requirements governing lawful, decent, orderly and responsible political communication but will not surrender to an unjustifiable financial burden imposed by an outgoing AbdulRazaq-led administration," the party stated.
While acknowledging KWASAA's regulatory responsibilities, including regulating outdoor advertising, issuing permits and controlling campaign posters and signs, the PDP argued that such powers did not permit the agency to impose arbitrary financial obligations. "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 PDP questioned the legal and administrative basis for the charges, demanding to know who approved them, how the amounts were calculated and what services KWASAA would provide in return for the millions of naira it seeks to collect. The party also cited provisions of the Electoral Act 2026, arguing that government institutions should administer campaign regulations in a manner that guarantees a level playing field for political parties and candidates. "The Act requires political parties and candidates to campaign in accordance with applicable rules, while expressly providing that state apparatus, including the media, must not be employed to the advantage or disadvantage of any political party or candidate," the PDP said.
The party warned that the new KWASAA policy, if implemented in its present form, could turn political communication into an exclusive preserve of the ruling party. "The KWASAA policy gives the impression of a government uncomfortable with the growing strength of opposition voices ahead of 2027," the PDP said. "The attempt to place a huge financial price tag on campaign visibility, particularly at a time when the PDP is securing the trust of the Kwara populace, raises legitimate questions about whether public institutions are being deployed to achieve political objectives," the party added.
The ADC similarly rejected the fee structure, describing it as a financial barrier to participation in the 2027 elections. The party's Publicity Secretary, Kabir Basambo, said the N100 million presidential fee amounted to "taxation of democracy" rather than legitimate regulation. "This is not regulation. This is taxation of democracy," Basambo said. The ADC questioned the legal basis for the charges and warned that the policy could restrict political visibility to candidates with substantial financial resources. According to the party, such a situation could discourage credible aspirants and turn elections into an "auction".
The ADC also alleged that the agency could be used to restrict opposition activities, insisting that campaign advertising regulations should focus on order, safety and compliance rather than limiting political participation. Basambo said the party was prepared to challenge the policy through lawful means, including litigation, if the fees were not withdrawn. The party also urged Governor AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq to intervene and direct KWASAA to reconsider the charges.
The PDP vowed to resist what it described as an attempt to use state institutions as instruments of political intimidation or financial suppression of opposition parties. The party called on Governor AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq to stop using state institutions as instruments of political intimidation or financial suppression of opposition parties. It urged KWASAA to withdraw the exorbitant charges immediately, saying it was pointless to make a policy that ordinary citizens and candidates cannot reasonably comply with and then threaten sanctions.
KWASAA, however, maintains that the fees form part of its regulatory framework for political advertising and apply according to the elective position being contested. The objections by both parties come as political activities intensify across Kwara ahead of the 2027 elections.
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