Makinde Sues Otti Over ₦200m Campaign Fee Dispute

Governor Seyi Makinde of Oyo State, representing the Allied Peoples Movement (APM), has initiated legal proceedings against Abia State Governor Alex Otti and other state authorities regarding a ₦200 million fee imposed on presidential candidates for displaying campaign materials in Abia State. The lawsuit, marked HC/214/2026, was filed at the Abia State High Court through lawyer Musibau Adetunbi, SAN.

Other defendants include the Abia State Attorney-General, the Abia State Signage and Advertisement Agency (ASAA), and the Abia State House of Assembly. Makinde argues that the fee is unconstitutional and inconsistent with the Electoral Act 2026, requesting the court to annul the ASAA regulations imposing the charge and to prevent the removal or obstruction of campaign billboards.

The plaintiffs assert that Section 99(2) of the Electoral Act prohibits the use of state apparatus to advantage or disadvantage any political party or candidate and that the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has exclusive authority over campaign rules. They also cite Section 92, which limits presidential campaign expenditure to ₦10 billion nationwide.