By Olanrewaju Adesanya
Ahead of the All Progressives Congress (APC) primaries, a group passionate about the protection of democratic tenets the Joint Action for Good Governance (JAGG), has expressed displeasure over the party’s new nomination form stipulations.
In a statement jointly signed by Comrade Abdulwaheed Odunuga the National Vice Chairman and the Secretary Comrade Aderibigbe Razaq, the group berates the outrageous price tag on the nomination forms.
According to JAGG the increase is a deliberate attempt to disenfranchise majority of interested candidates from jostling to clinch the party’s ticket, as the arrangement will end up favouring money bags and hitherto anointed candidates .
The group queries the rationale behind the increase and describes the effort as insensitive considering the economic situation of the country.
“We are not being sincere about our fight against corruption when we expect aspirants to reduce their wealth by one-tenth of a billion naira, to increase the wealth of the Party and we are not asking question about the source of the funds .
“We will end up grooming criminals in two ways: as elected officials who had paid huge funds to finance his or her ambition and prospecting candidates who would need to siphon enough money to cater for subsequent elections.
“Party’s flagbearers should not be chosen based on how wealthy they are, but rather based on how creative they have been in managing and solving public matters and societal problems.
“This action of APC is clearly insensitive and definitely not in the interest of the ordinary Nigerians with inalienable rights to seek and contest the elective positions.
JAGG also raised a poser on what are the likely justification for the increase.
“What is the justification of the party’s high demands in fees for nomination forms?
“The amount is too outrageous. It is not good for democracy.
The group maintained that the move is suspicious, suggesting that the fee for nomination form of the President shouldn’t be more than N25,000,000, that of the Governor’s N10,000,000 , Senator- N5,000,000, House of Representative – N2,000,000 and State House of Assembly Member- N1,000,000 respectively.
The group counseled that an immediate review of the nomination fees will be most appropriate given the economic situation of the country.
