ABUJA – The Allied Peoples Movement (APM) and its presidential candidate, Governor Seyi Makinde of Oyo State, have taken legal action against Governor Alex Otti of Abia State over the alleged unlawful imposition of a N200 million mandatory campaign fee. According to the plaintiffs, the Abia State governor mandated that any presidential candidate wishing to have his or her campaign materials displayed in the state must pay the sum.
This lawsuit, which was first reported by Vanguard News, Punch Newspapers, Tribune Online, and Daily Post Nigeria, seeks redress for what the APM and Makinde allege is a breach of their rights to free speech and fair competition.
The plaintiffs claim that Otti’s requirement for a mandatory campaign fee violates sections 39 and 42 of the Nigerian Constitution, which respectively guarantee freedom of expression and prohibit discrimination on the grounds of political opinions. The APM and Makinde argue that this requirement unduly disadvantages candidates who may not be able to afford such a large fee.
As of now, NNPC has not said when the facility began operating or if it will affect the presidential polls in any way. The NNPC’s position on this matter is unclear.
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