The Presidential Campaign Organisation of Phillip Idaewor, Chairman of APC Diaspora Chairmen Forum, has urged the party’s leadership to reconsider the N100 million fee for the party’s nomination and declaration of interest forms for its presidential aspirants.

In a statement signed by the director-general of the Ideawor Hope2023 campaign organisation, Charles Eze, the group said there was a need for the party to reduce the fees to make it affordable and open to more Nigerians to participate.

Compared to Nigeria, he said, the U.S. governorship form costs between $2,000 and $3,750 (or N980,000); Congress (House of Representatives) is $1,760 (N850,000), state House of Representatives (House of Assembly) between $200 and $750, and presidential nomination fees are determined by each state, according to Mr Eze. For example, New Hampshire charges $1,000, South Carolina, $40,000, Texas, $5,000, etc.

“It is evident from the above that none of Nigeria’s main political parties is as low compared to the U.S.,” Mr Eze pointed out.

He noted that what was happening in Nigeria’s political leadership selection process remained counterproductive to its national development aspiration.

“Whilst the cost of nomination and expression of interest forms can be considered high in other African countries, Nigeria stands way above even the most expensive in Africa,” he stressed. “We urge all patriotic Nigerians to challenge the dependency of political parties on candidates’ fees for funding.”

He alleged that there had been a conscious effort to exclude credible candidates lacking in stupendous wealth and affluent backers from Nigeria’s political leadership space.

“We are adding the voice of reason to the consciousness of true patriots who believe and champion the course of our motherland. It is Nigeria first before our political parties and our candidates,” said Mr Eze said. “It has become very obvious that people’s personal ambitions are gradually being placed over the healthy corporate existence of our dear country.”

Mr Eze also explained that the ploy by political parties in Nigeria to stop qualified candidates “will deny us as a country the human capital needed to enrich Nigeria’s political leadership and keep us from reaching our potential as a country.”

(NAN)