Doris Ogala, identified in the report as the African Action Congress (AAC) governorship candidate in Abia State, has criticised the Abia State Government’s reported ₦150 million campaign advertising permit, describing the fee as excessive and unfair.
According to a report by Premium Times published on Thursday, July 30, 2026, Ogala voiced her objections during a visit to the Abia State Structures for Signages and Advertising Agency (ABSSAA), where she questioned officials over the policy.
Ogala argued that the reported permit fee would place an unreasonable financial burden on political candidates, particularly those from opposition parties. She said such a requirement could discourage participation in the electoral process and undermine fair political competition.
Speaking during the visit, she challenged any attempt to remove her campaign materials, saying, “I’m expected to pay ₦150 million? Let anybody touch my billboard. We can’t pay that in this state.”
She also alleged that the policy was designed to target her campaign, claiming it could be used to limit opposition activities ahead of the election. According to Ogala, electoral regulations should encourage participation rather than create barriers for candidates seeking public office.
The governorship aspirant maintained that the reported fee was unrealistic given the country’s economic conditions and warned that imposing such costs could restrict political competition to only those with significant financial resources.
She further insisted that candidates have a constitutional right to campaign and urged authorities to ensure that election regulations are applied fairly to all political parties.
At the time of the report, there was no response from the Abia State Government or the Abia State Structures for Signages and Advertising Agency (ABSSAA) to Ogala’s allegations.
