2023 Election: ‘Cut nomination form fees for youths’ – Representative

The representative of Kwara Central in the Nigerian Youth Parliament 5th Assembly, Ibraheem Abdullateef, calls on the major political parties to slash the fees for their nomination forms ahead of the 2023 elections to strengthen democracy and foster inclusion.

The report is in a statement signed on Sunday by the Youth representative titled ‘2023: APC, PDP, and others should cut nomination form fees for youths by 60%’.

According to him, the Form went for N20m. Both categories attracted N1m and N20m, respectively, in the PDP.

“Reports also show that PDP charged N“In the 2019 elections, the Governorship Expression of Interest Form of the APC attracted N2.5m, while the Nomination 2m for expression of interest and N10m for nomination form for the office of president, N3.5m for senate, N2.5m for House of Representatives and N600,000 for the House of Assembly.

“The APC charged N5m for expression of interest and N40m for nomination form for the office of president, N7m for Senate, N3.5m for House of Representatives and N850,000, for the House of Assembly.”

“These political parties retained the fees in the recently held Anambra elections and have adopted the same for the elections in 2022.”

Abdullateef described Nigeria’s democracy as hugely expensive, noting that it encourages corruption, inequality, and alienation of the ordinary people.

“We have seen in the past few months a great deal of debate over the amendment of the Electoral Act. Regardless of one’s political leaning, it is the most patriotic thing to strengthen our democracy. I urge President Muhammadu Buhari and the National Assembly to find common ground in urgently bringing the bill to life.

“However, there is one more thing for young Nigerians to make a priority as we move closer to the 2023 general elections: the crazy fees for nomination forms.

“It is uneconomical, undemocratic, a stumbling block to the national agenda for inclusion and peace. This must form a strong discussion point for the political parties, media, CSOs, and other stakeholders,” he said.

According to him, there should be a reduction of the fees for aspirants under 35 years.

Suzan O./NAN