NEWS ANALYSIS: APC’s N100m nomination form and matters arising

It is hardly surprising that Nigerians have reacted with indignation and condemnation to the N100 million presidential nomination form announced by the All Progressives Congress (APC). Not only are the presidential aspirants expected to cough out such a huge amount of money. Governorship aspirants are also to pay N50 million; senatorial aspirants, N20 million; House of Representatives, N10 million and House of Assembly, N2 million.

The opposition Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), on the other hand, pegged the cost of its presidential form at N40 million. Governorship aspirants are to cough out N21 million, senatorial aspirants, N3.5 million; House of Representatives N2.5 million and House of Assembly, N600,000.

Apparently knowing the implication of bringing out, even a modest N40 million to obtain just the nomination form, most of the presidential aspirants who have come out and obtained forms in the PDP have tried to avoid public opprobrium by claiming that the forms were obtained by their supporters.

APC seems unconcerned about the implication of its move to hike its nomination forms. The ruling party, with the move, has inadvertently reserved its forms to the highest bidders. It is also a sign of arrogance, that the party thinks that whoever has its nomination as a candidate, has automatically won in the 2023 general election.

Nigerians are of the view that for a party that came on board with the promise to fight corruption, this move will surely entrench corruption further in the polity. Observers are of the opinion that it is unthinkable that aspirants will have to spend so much just to obtain form to contest primaries that will produce just one candidate for each post across the spectrum. The aspirants are still going to “settle” delegates during the primaries.

The cost of electioneering campaign in this party of the world is mind boggling.   

Yoruba socio-political group, Afenifere, in its reaction to the recourse to the highest bidders by the two leading political parties, said it would pave the way for corruption to continue thriving in the country.

The body, through its Secretary-General, Mr. Sola Ebiseni, also said it was a way to limit the opportunity for common Nigerians from participating in the affairs of government.

According to him, the cost of the APC’s nomination form is only “responding to the shameful state of the economy under its government, where the rate of inflation is intractable and cost of living unprecedentedly unbearable.

“It is an insulting message to the pauperised Nigerians that they have no say in the governance of the country, or any part thereof. It is a direct affront to the constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria and particularly the declaration, in Section 14 (2) (b) that the participation of Nigerians in their government shall be ensured in accordance with the provisions of the constitution.

“How can the poor members of the party, who are so blatantly discriminated against, on the basis of their situation in life, contrary to Section 42 of the Constitution, participate in the governance of the country, particularly in a country where only a political party can field a candidate and no independent candidate allowed?

“Unfortunately, the two dominant parties are both guilty in this game of absurdity and conspiracy against the ordinary Nigerians in the access to their platforms for political participation.

“For the PDP, it runs contrary to the objectives of their founding fathers, led by the likes of Alex Ekwueme and Solomon Lar. The current price placed on participation is the very height of political insensitivity and an open invitation to thievery by anyone who could only corruptly meander himself to power,” Afenifere said.

The argument is out there why someone should spend so much to get to the office, just to ‘serve” the people. Would our elected officials not help themselves first on getting to the office by recouping their expenses before thinking of the provision of the so called dividend of democracy to the people? Is the party so sure of winning the 2023 presidential election and other posts, for which it is demanding so much from its members as nomination fees with the level of insecurity, economic deprivation, inflation and the general state of despondent in the country? How many youths, who are supposedly the leaders of tomorrow, can afford the fee? Why would a so called progressive party price itself out of the reach of the ordinary folks?

Many questions for the decision makers in the APC to answer.