The ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) has announced the cost of the party’s various forms ahead of its primary elections.
The presidential nomination and expression of interest forms were pegged at N100 million. The forms for governorship aspirants cost N50 million; Senate, N20 million; House of Representatives, N10 million and State Houses of Assembly, N2 million.
The National Executive Committee (NEC) of the party disclosed this on Wednesday, 20th April 2022, via the party’s National Publicity Secretary, Mr. Felix Morka. This was released shortly after the 11th NEC Meeting held in Abuja.
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The statement read that the Nomination Form for the Presidential position would go for N70 million while the Expression of Interest Form would go for N30 million.
Opposing an earlier announcement by the party’s National Women Leader, Betta Edu that the women will get free forms, Mr. Morka said women are entitled to free nomination forms but will pay for their expression of interest forms.
Similarly, the party leadership also approved a 50% reduction in nomination fees for youths less than 40 years for various elective positions.
He further disclosed that the APC had approved the Schedule of Activities and Timetable for the 2023 general elections.
According to the Spokesman, the NEC has approved the commencement of sale of Expression of Interest and Nomination Forms from Saturday, April 23 to May 6, 2022. Consequently, May 30/31 2022 were approved for the Presidential primaries.
It’s noteworthy that the incumbent Vice-President, Prof. Yemi Osinbajo; the former governor of Lagos State, Sen Bola Tinubu; the Minister of Transportation, Mr. Rotimi Amaechi; the Ebonyi State Governor, Mr. David Umahi, are among the leading presidential aspirants of the ruling party.
Having gone through the APC’s approval as regards its forms for the various elective positions, particularly that of the presidency, as a concerned Nigerian, I’m bedeviled by the fact that the aforementioned costs are so exorbitant.
This simply means that a ‘common or average’ Nigerian who is interested in becoming the President of the country cannot come anywhere near the position, let alone embracing it. Hence, such a person would remain a mere dreamer till further notice.
This unabated placing of outrageous price for these forms is the sole reason cruel godfatherism, which has crippled the Nigeria’s political space, will never depart from the country. This implies that the country will continue to wallow in a confused state.
Taking into cognizance the damaging effects of this unending scenario to Nigeria’s polity, there’s a compelling need to review the country’s electoral laws to ensure the electoral umpire is given the power to regulate the cost of the nomination and expression of interest forms of the various political parties.
It is better late than never. Hence, the time to do this is now.