ADP Gov Candidate in Imo State Slams Uzodimma over N54m billboard fee

Action Democratic Party’s Governorship Candidate Criticizes Imo State Government’s Exorbitant Billboard Fee Ahead of November Election.

In a recent development, Dr. Kachi Nwoga, the gubernatorial candidate representing the Action Democratic Party (ADP), strongly criticized the Imo State Advertisement and Signage Agency for demanding a staggering sum of N54 million from political parties intending to erect campaign billboards ahead of the highly anticipated November 11 election.

In what seemed to be a sarcastic appeal to Imo Governor, Hope Uzondimma, Nwoga urged the state authorities to grant opposition parties some breathing space, emphasizing the outrageous nature of the advertisement fee imposed on them.

To express his discontent, Nwoga penned a letter to the national headquarters of the Inter-Party Advisory Council, which he titled “Petition Against N54m Campaign Levy Imposed on All Opposition Parties by Hope Uzodimma-led Imo Government.” This letter was made available to journalists, drawing attention to the contentious issue.

Speaking at a press conference in Abuja on Monday, the ADP candidate raised concerns over what he perceives as a deliberate move to hinder opposition parties, thereby giving Governor Uzodimma’s ruling party an undue advantage in the upcoming governorship poll slated for November 11.

The demand for such a hefty campaign levy has sparked controversy and drawn attention to the issue of fair play and equity in the state’s political landscape, as parties gear up for the crucial elections. With opposition candidates voicing their dissent, the matter is likely to intensify in the days leading up to the polls.

He said, “The opposition is not allowed to breathe. I cannot go and put up a billboard today because, by the time they are telling me to pay N54 million naira to put up a billboard, it means I cannot put up a billboard.

“I don’t know any state anywhere, even if you need to convert it to dollars, nobody can charge this kind of money. It’s obscene, It’s atrocious, It’s sinful. That’s what they’re asking the opposition to pay.

“And I intend to ask since the entire state up and down is filled with the billboard of one particular person, I really want to know how much the state has made from that one person, if this is how much you have to pay for billboards.”

Nwoga’s reaction was in response to a circular issued by the General Manager of IMSAA, Chibuzor Umunnakwe, alerting all political parties participating in the forthcoming governorship election to apply for permits before erecting political billboards, out-of-home displays, and ancillary materials.

The letter was dated June 7, however, the agency maintained that the rates, terms and conditions had become effective from April 1.

The letter reads: “Political candidates intent on deploying outdoor/public displays must obtain, fill and submit the IMSAA application for outdoor political campaign advertisement form.

“A list of proposed billboard sites, including the ones for rental should be indicated in the form or as a separate attached document. If the sites are going to be built by the candidate or supporting parties, these would be treated as temporary structures.

“On approval of the form content, candidates will make the appropriate fee payments as indicated below. IMSAA finds all processes satisfactory, candidates will get a compliance confirmation letter from the agency.”

He stated that application form fee is pegged at N100,000; while the “gubernatorial Campaign Permit fee is N54,000,000.”

He said on approval of the campaign, site inspection fee attracts N50,000, adding that this fee was in respect of billboards built by the candidate but does not affect those rented, while the approval fee is pegged at N150, 000.