Ogala Rejects Abia’s ₦150m Billboard Fee

"I should pay ₦150 million? I dare anybody to touch my billboard. We can't pay that in this state. This is targeted at me. Otti is afraid of me," she declared.

The African Action Congress (AAC) governorship candidate in Abia State, Doris Ogala, has rejected the Abia State Government's newly introduced ₦150 million campaign advertising permit for governorship candidates, describing the policy as unjust and a threat to democratic participation.

Speaking during a visit to the Abia State Structures for Signages and Advertising Agency (ABSSAA) on Thursday, Ogala vowed not to pay the fee and challenged the authorities to remove her campaign billboards if they deemed them illegal.

"I should pay ₦150 million? I dare anybody to touch my billboard. We can't pay that in this state. This is targeted at me. Otti is afraid of me," she declared.

The actress-turned-politician argued that the permit requirement was not simply a regulatory measure but a deliberate attempt to stifle opposition parties by making it difficult for them to reach voters through outdoor campaign advertisements.

She questioned the rationale behind the fee, insisting that it was far beyond the financial capacity of many candidates and effectively restricted political participation to those with substantial resources.

According to Ogala, the policy contradicts the state government's claims of promoting human capital development and creating an enabling environment for residents, saying the realities faced by citizens tell a different story.

She urged Governor Alex Otti's administration to immediately withdraw the directive, warning that political parties could be forced to campaign without billboards if the policy remains in place.

Ogala maintained that democracy thrives when all candidates have a fair opportunity to present their ideas to voters, regardless of their financial strength. She argued that imposing what she described as an excessive permit fee would discourage young people, entrepreneurs and smaller political parties from participating in the electoral process.

She also criticised the timing of the policy, noting that many Abia residents are grappling with economic hardship.

According to the AAC candidate, government should prioritise improving the welfare of citizens rather than introducing policies that could limit political participation ahead of the 2027 governorship election.