{
  "id": 759135,
  "title": "PDP candidate rejects Kogi’s N5m campaign billboard levy",
  "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/08/13/pdp-candidate-rejects-kogis-n5m-campaign-billboard-levy",
  "topic": "world",
  "section": "World",
  "published": "2026-08-13T11:20:52.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "Punch Nigeria",
    "slug": "punch-nigeria",
    "url": "https://punchng.com/pdp-candidate-rejects-kogis-n5m-campaign-billboard-levy/"
  },
  "original_language": "en",
  "account": "The candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in Ogugu State Constituency for the Kogi State House of Assembly, Michael Idoko, has dismissed a proposed N5 million campaign signage fee set by the Kogi State Government for the 2027 general elections. In a statement released in Abuja, Idoko labeled the fee as \"anti-democratic and anti-people,\" arguing that it could make political participation increasingly reliant on candidates' financial status. The Kogi State Government has allocated N150 million for presidential candidates to display campaign billboards, posters, and promotional materials across the state, while allocating lesser amounts to senatorial, House of Representatives, and State House of Assembly candidates. Idoko also criticized the charges as a misuse of funds that could negatively impact potential candidates, especially young aspirants, women, and grassroots politicians. The Kogi State Commissioner for Information and Communications, Kingsley Fanwo, revealed the proposed charges after engaging with representatives of the signage and advertising industry during a stakeholders' meeting in Lokoja, the state capital.",
  "summary": "A PDP candidate in Kogi State has rejected the N5m campaign billboard levy, calling it anti-democratic and a barrier to political participation. Read More: https://punchng.com/pdp-candidate-rejects-kogis-n5m-campaign-billboard-levy/",
  "key_points": [
    "PDP candidate Michael Idoko rejects N5m campaign billboard levy in Kogi State.",
    "Idoko calls the fee anti-democratic and anti-people, citing financial status reliance.",
    "Kogi State Government allocates N150m for presidential candidates' billboards."
  ],
  "editors_take": "The proposed N5 million campaign signage fee in Kogi State could make political participation increasingly reliant on candidates' financial status, negatively impacting young aspirants, women, and grassroots politicians.",
  "illustration": null,
  "coverage": {
    "outlets": 2,
    "also_reported_by": [
      {
        "outlet": "Punch",
        "title": "PDP candidate rejects Kogi’s N5m campaign billboard levy",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/08/13/pdp-candidate-rejects-kogis-n5m-campaign-billboard-levy-760534",
        "published": "2026-08-13T11:40:52.000Z"
      }
    ]
  },
  "ai_generated": true,
  "disclaimer": "Summaries, key points and the editor’s take are written by software from other outlets’ reporting and may contain errors — always check the linked original."
}