The Independent National Electoral Commission says it lacks constitutional powers to sanction state governments for imposing high fees on political parties and candidates seeking to erect campaign billboards.
INEC National Commissioner and Chairman of Voter Education and Publicity Mohammed Haruna said signage regulation remained largely within the authority of state and local governments.
He said the law did not prescribe limits on what state authorities could charge and therefore provided INEC with no clear basis for imposing penalties over allegedly prohibitive fees.
The issue has become increasingly contentious ahead of the 2027 elections as several states introduce sharply higher political advertising charges.
Kogi State, for example, has announced N150 million for presidential candidates, N50 million for senatorial candidates and N30 million for House of Representatives candidates.
Rivers is charging N75 million for presidential billboards and N50 million for governorship advertising.
Abia has announced N200 million for presidential billboards, N150 million for governorship, N100 million for Senate, N50 million for House of Representatives and N20 million for state assembly.
Other high charges have been reported in Anambra, Cross River and Benue.
Opposition parties have criticised such fees as an attempt to restrict political competition.
Haruna said political parties controlling states had been accused across party lines of using signage regulation in ways opponents considered unfair.
He added that the law also did not regulate private media in the same detailed way it addressed public media during elections.
The commission’s position means disputes over campaign signage are likely to remain matters for state regulation, political negotiation or possible judicial review unless the electoral law is amended.
