By Abasi Ita
As political activities begin to gather momentum ahead of the 2027 general elections, the Cross River State Signage and Advertisement Agency, CRISSAA, has announced new rates for political billboards and other campaign advertisements across the state.
The agency said the rates were part of efforts to sanitise political advertising, encourage issue based campaigns and ensure that campaign materials conform to existing regulations.
The Director General of CRISSAA, Ubong Sam, announced the new tariff during an interactive meeting with members of the Inter Party Advisory Council, IPAC, in Calabar.
According to him, political parties and candidates intending to erect campaign billboards or display other forms of political advertising must submit the materials to CRISSAA at least 21 days before installation for screening and approval.
Under the approved rate structure, presidential campaign advertisements will cost N150 million, while governorship advertisements are pegged at N100 million.
Senatorial campaign advertisements will attract N50 million, House of Representatives candidates will pay N25 million, while candidates contesting seats in the State House of Assembly will pay N5 million.
Sam described the rates as moderate, noting that they were arrived at after consultations with key stakeholders and consideration of the prevailing economic situation.
“Our rates are moderate and reflect present economic realities. We arrived at them in synergy with critical stakeholders. It is not targeted at anyone and is meant to allow multiparty campaigns towards the 2027 elections,” he said.
Also speaking, the Special Adviser to the Governor on Inter Party Affairs, Nkoyo Otu, described the rates as friendly and encouraging.
She urged political parties, candidates and their supporters to respect one another and promote mutual understanding, stressing that responsible political conduct would help sustain a peaceful atmosphere as the 2027 elections approach.
The IPAC Chairman in Cross River State, Engr. Effiong Edet, said opposition parties were satisfied with the rates, particularly when compared with the prevailing charges in some other states.
Edet urged political parties and candidates to adhere strictly to CRISSAA’s guidelines, saying compliance would contribute to a peaceful political environment during the electioneering period.
However, the 2023 governorship candidate of the Labour Party in Cross River State and current state chairman of the party, Ogar Osim, called for a further reduction in the rates.
Osim acknowledged that the charges were relatively moderate but argued that a downward review was necessary to encourage broader participation in the electoral process, especially against the backdrop of the prevailing economic challenges in the state.
The meeting was attended by the APC State Publicity Secretary, Emmanuel Inyang, who represented the party chairman, Rt. Hon. Chris Etta, as well as representatives of several opposition political parties in the state.
The Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, was however absent from the engagement.