Victor EzejaThe Labour Party has disclosed that its governorship nomination form will be sold at N15 million, stating that it has considered it necessary to bring the cost down to give Nigerians with a genuine interest in governance a fair chance of participation.
The party said it took into consideration the economic situation in the country and decided to bring the price down to N15 million against N25 million earlier suggested by some stakeholders.
This was revealed in a statement by one of the spokespersons of the Labour Party/Obi-Datti Presidential Campaign Council, Kenneth Okonkwo, via his Twitter handle on Tuesday afternoon.
Okonkwo said the price is lower when compared to what other political parties are charging.
The schedule of activities and timetable for the Gubernatorial election in Imo, Kogi and Bayelsa States released by the ruling All Progressives Congress Directorate of Organisation and signed by the National Organizing Secretary, Alhaji Sulaiman Muhammad Argungu, showed that the nomination form for the governorship goes for N40 million while the expression of interest is N10 million, altogether N50 million.
Action Alliance (AA) fixed the price of its nomination and expression of interest forms for the elections at N20 million.
That of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) was pegged at N21 million during the 2022 primaries.
Recall that the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) had in October 2022, announced that off-cycle governorship elections will be held in Bayelsa, Imo and Kogi states on 11th November 2023.
Explaining why the Labour Party pegged its governorship nomination forms at N15 million, Okonkwo said the party wants to carry Nigerians along in what it does.
“After due consultation with all the relevant stakeholders in the Party, and taking into consideration the overwhelming interest of Nigerians in our Party, and the necessity to birth a new Nigeria, and in view of the prevailing high cost of things in Nigeria, which the incompetent APC ruling party has foisted on all Nigerians, the Labour Party, as a listening Party, has taken note of the suggestions of Nigerians that a party of the working class Nigerians should settle for a nomination fee of not more than N15m for the post of a Governor.
“In line with our avowed disposition to carry Nigerians along in what we do, the Party has decided to review the cost of nomination forms downwards for all positions taking into consideration the suggested amount of N15m for the post of Governor. We must move together to salvage our country from incompetent and dishonest leadership of the old order,” Okonkwo stated.
Victor Ezeja is a passionate journalist with six years of experience writing on economy, politics and energy. He holds a Masters degree in Mass Communication.
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