Gov Makinde Drags Gov Otti To Court Over Abia’s ₦200m Campaign Fee
The Presidential Candidate of the Allied Peoples Movement (APM), Governor Seyi Makinde of Oyo State, and his party have sued the Abia State Government, the Governor, Alex Otti, and others over their alleged unlawful imposition of a N200 million mandatory campaign fee on any Presidential Candidate wishing to have his or her campaign materials displayed in any part of the state.
In the suit marked: HC/214/2026, filed before the High Court of Abia State through their lawyer, Musibau Adetunbi, the plaintiffs faulted the fee, arguing that it violated the Constitution, the Electoral Act 2026 and other relevant laws.
The claimants, who said they learned about the fee while preparing to commence their nationwide campaign, argued that if every state were to impose such a high fee, it would be impossible for any Presidential Candidate to comply with the campaign funding limit set by the Electoral Act 2026.
With the Governor, those listed as defendants in the suit are: The state’s Attorney General, Abia State Signage and Advertisement Agency (ASAA) and the state House of Assembly.
They raised six questions for the court’s determination and are praying for eight reliefs, including an order setting aside the regulations made by ASAA in respect of political campaigns, including the imposition of a campaign fee of N200m on Presidential Candidates or any amount.
They also want an order of injunction restraining the defendants and their agents from enforcing the campaign or signage fee and from “removing, defacing, destroying and obstructing the placement of the complainants’ political campaign billboard and outdoor advertisements within Abia State.
Meanwhile, the Makinde/Daura Presidential Campaign Organisation has announced the commencement of zonal town hall meetings as part of its consultations ahead of the 2027 presidential election.
The meetings, scheduled across the six geopolitical zones, are expected to bring together citizens and stakeholders to discuss issues of national importance.
In a statement yesterday, Tony Ehilebo, the Special Adviser on Media and Digital Communication to Makinde, said the North-West meeting would be held in Katsina, Katsina State, tomorrow, September 22.
The campaign will hold its South-South meeting in Uyo, Akwa Ibom State, on Friday, September 25, while the North-Central meeting is scheduled for Lafia, Nasarawa State, on Monday, September 28.
The South-East meeting will take place in Enugu, Enugu State, on Wednesday, September 30.
