2019: Presidential Aspirant Drags APC To Court Over High Nomination Fee

Presidential aspirant of the All Progressives Congress, (APC), Mr. Christmas Akpodiete, have dragged the ruling party before the Federal High Court in Abuja over the high cost of its nomination forms.

In a suit, with number FHC/ABJ/CS/951/2018, the Presidential aspirant is asking the court to restrain the APC from going ahead with the schedule primaries and if they do, declare it null and void.

Other defendants in the suit include, the Attorney General of the Federation (AGF), the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), the Peoples Democratic Party, and other political parties

Akpodiete is also asking the Court to restrain INEC from recognizing such primaries, pending the determination of the substantial suit.

The Presidential aspirant is of the opinion that the nomination fees charged by political parties are not only ridiculous and unaffordable, but they are unconstitutional.

“The nomination fees are repugnant to the rules of natural justice, equity and good conscience,” he said.

“It’s an attempt by the Nigeria political oligarchs to make nonsense of the just passed (NOT TOO YOUNG TO RUN LAW), and it is a calculated move to deprive the Nigeria people their constitutional guaranteed right to run for public office in their own country.”

He also prayed the court to peg the nomination fees for all elective positions at N18,000,00, as it is the national minimum wage.

According to him, if the nomination fees is beyond that amount, the ordinary Nigerian worker who earns N18,000 would be deprived the capacity to achieve their constitutionally guaranteed right, which includes the right to run for public office.

Counsel to the plaintiff, Barrister F.B Ehikioya, said “the action is based on a breach of the fundamental human right of all Nigeria aspirants and any attempt to keep the Nigeria people down shall be collectively rejected”.

It will be recalled that Akpodiete had earlier written to the APC chairman, Adams Oshiomhole, appealing to the party to jettison the nomination fees or keep it within the minimum wage.

But announcing the commencement of sale of forms on Tuesday, the APC pegged the cost of the Presidential nomination form for the 2019 election at N45 million.

The case is awaiting hearing.