The Pan Yoruba Socio-political group, Afenifere, has reacted to the exorbitant cost of expression of interest and nomination forms fixed by both the All Progressives Congress (APC) and the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) for their Presidential aspirants for their primaries ahead of the 2023 elections.
According to Afenifere, 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.”
Persecondnews earlier reported that the APC announced N100 million for the presidential form ahead of its primary scheduled for end of May 2022.
The party pegged their Interest form at N30 million, while the nomination form will cost N70 million, totaling N100 million.
The PDP had also fixed their Presidential ticket at N40 million.
Reacting to the development, the General Secretary of Afenifere, Chief Sola Ebiseni, said: ”The cost of the APC nomination forms 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 pauperized Nigerians that they have no say in the governance of Nigeria 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.”
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