…APC May Rake in N1.4 billion from 15 Presidential Aspirants

… PDP Could Mobilise N560 million from 15 Presidential Aspirants

… Groups and Individuals Purchase Forms for Aspirants

… Obasanjo Warns Nigerians on Aspirants Who Can’t Purchase Forms

It is party time and Naira rain for Nigeria’s 18 registered political parties as they announce varying amounts for the purchase of their nomination and expression of interest forms for aspirants willing to contest different political offices with the presidential position emerging as the biggest cash cow. It is expected that billions of Naira will be generated from the process by the political parties.

For the presidential nomination forms, it is expected that the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) could raise as much as N1.4 billion from its 15 aspirants (including one woman) who have indicated interest, nomination form is fixed at N100 million each. In the PDP, the figure would be as high as N560 million from its 15 aspirants (including one woman) who have indicated interest, nomination form costs N40 million each.

For the All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA) the Presidential nomination form is pegged at N20 million, and Expression of Interest at N5 million making a total of N25 million.

For the Zenith Labour Party, the presidential nomination form costs N23 million only, while its governorship form costs N12 million. For the Action Alliance, the presidential nomination form is N10 million with another N5 million for expression of interest.

Fees for other positions in the APC include House of Assembly N2 million, House of Representatives N10 million, Senate N20 million and governorship at N50 million. In the PDP, House of Assembly is fixed at N600,000.00; House of Representatives N2,5 million, Senate N3.5 million and governorship at 21 million.

The huge sums fixed by the political parties have been greeted by criticisms across the country, with some describing the act as monetization of the political process which will further lead to exclusion of people without financial means.

But the party has justified the huge costs, blaming it on their administrative costs for running their offices and for the conduct of party primaries across the country. It is also argued that the rate of inflation in the country may have fueled the increases.

However, all the political parties have been gender-sensitive even in the face of these huge fees by allowing special discounts including free offer of nomination forms for women, youth and persons living with disabilities.

The 15 presidential aspirants on the APC platform are Alh. Yahaya Adoza Bello, Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu, Prof Yemi Osinbajo, Chief Rotimi Amaechi, Dr Chris Ngige, Ibinabo Joy Dokubo, Ihechukwu Dallas-Chima, Senator Orji Uzor Kalu, Engr Dave Umahi, Rev Moses Ayom, Senator Rochas Okorocha, Mr. Gbenga Olawepo-Hashim, Dr. Ibrahim Bello Dauda, Dr. Tunde Bakare, Mr. Tein Jack-Rich.

The 15 aspirants on the platform of the PDP are Senator Bukola Saraki, Senator Anyim Pius Anyim, Mr. Peter Obi, Alhaji Atiku Abubakar, Dr Nwachukwu Anakwenze, Mr Sam Ohuabunwa, Mrs. Olivia Diana Teriela, Mr. Dele Momodu, Mr. Ayo Fayose, Muhammed Hayatu-Deen, Senator Bala Mohammed, Alhaji Aminu Tambuwal, Mr. Udom Emmanuel, Mr. Nyesom Wike, Chief Charlie Ugwu.

It is yet to be seen how many of the aforementioned aspirants would cough out the huge sums being requested as expression of interest and nomination forms in the two major parties.

There are, however, some other presidential hopefuls in the other political parties as follows: 3 in ADC, namely Prof Kingsley Moghalu, Mr. Chukwuka Monye and Dr. Mani Ibrahim. There are 3 in SDP, namely Mr. Adewale Adebayo, Cesnabmihilo Dorothy Nuhu-Aken’ Ova and Mrs. Khadijat Okunnu-Lamidi. The two aspirants in PRP are Mrs Patience Key and Mr. Kola Abiola. The only APGA aspirant for now is Mrs Angela Johnson. Professor Christopher hopes to fly the flag of the Accord Party and Engr Musa Kwankwaso is holding forth in the NNPP.

Perhaps in an attempt to give more aspirants opportunity to raise expected funds, the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) further adjusted its timetable and schedule of activities by extending the closing dates for the purchase of Expression of Interest and Nomination Forms for the 2023 general elections to Friday, April 22, 2022.

Under the reviewed timetable, the last day for the submission of already completed Forms is now extended to Monday, April 25, 2022

Consequently, the following new dates have been fixed for the screening as well as Appeals arising from the screening of aspirants for various positions; State House of Assembly and National Assembly: Wednesday, April 27, 2022; Governorship: Thursday, April 28, 2022; Presidential: Friday, April 29, 2022; all appeals on all screening exercises will hold on Monday, May 2, 2022

Under the updated timetable, the 3-man Ad Hoc Ward Congress has been fixed for Saturday, April 30, 2022 while the Local Government Area National Delegates Congresses will now hold on Thursday, May 5, 2022. Meanwhile all dates for primary election into various positions remain the same.

Groups and Persons Purchase Forms for Aspirants
Meanwhile help has started coming the way of some of the aspirants as different groups and individuals are helping them to foot the bill of the nomination forms. In political parlance, this could be a reflection of the acceptability and popularity of the aspirants. Those that have profited from such largesse so far include:

Atiku Abubakar
A group, the North East Business Forum, obtained the forms for former Vice President, Atiku Abubakar shortly after the PDP announced costs for purchasing nomination forms and expression of interest forms.

Presenting the forms to Atiku at his Abuja residence, chairman of the North-East Business Forum, Dalhatu Funakaya said the group has ultimate trust in the ability of Atiku to reposition the country on the path to prosperity.

Senator Bola Ahmed Tinubu
Aminu Suleiman, Director-General of the Tinubu Support Group (TSO), has offered to purchase the All Progressives Congress (APC) nomination and expression of interest forms for Senator Bola Ahmed Tinubu.

“I, Hon. Aminu Suleiman (D.G TSO) would like to officially state that I have signed a cheque to the tune of 100 million naira, for the purchase of nomination and expression of interest form for our Leader @officialABAT. God bless,” he tweeted.

Peter Obi
A group known as Young Professionals has presented a presidential nomination/expression of interest form to a Peoples Democratic Party aspirant, Peter Obi.

Speaking during the presentation of the form to Obi at his Onitsha residence, the group, led by its National Convener, Mr. Daniel Ruben, from Warri, Delta State, said they studied very closely the pedigree of the former Anambra State governor and found out that he met the right criteria of someone who can lead the country out of its present situation.

Rotimi Amaechi
A group, Amaechi Support Group (ASG), has appealed to the Minister of Transportation, Chibuike Amaechi, to heed its call to come out and contest the presidency in the 2023 general election.

Didia, who led other key officers of the group to Awka where he formally inaugurated the South East and South South zonal and state officers, noted that the group was made up of the voting masses of Nigeria, professionals, artisans, business executives, petty traders, housewives and youths.

Describing the minister as very qualified for the nation’s number one position, National Coordinator of ASG, ThankGod Didia, urged him to hearken to the voice of members of the support group.

He expressed the readiness of the members to purchase the All Progressives Congress (APC) nomination form for the minister if that will make him see how committed they are to over him.

Sen Bukola Saraki
They came to the national secretariat of the party in Abuja to purchase the forms, saying that they arrived at the decision in their search for a capable Nigerian that can address the interest of Nigerian youths and unify the country.

In his remark at the occasion, the leader of the group, Abubakar Danmusa, expressed sadness at the current state of things in the country, which he said motivated them to resolve to be part of the process leading to the emergence of a new president.

Obasanjo Warns Nigerians on Aspirants Who Can’t Buy Nomination Forms

Former President Olusegun Obasanjo, has told Nigerians not to vote for presidential aspirants who lie about other people buying nomination forms for them.

Speaking at a colloquium in Lagos last week to mark the 61st birthday of Pastor Ituah Ighodalo, outspoken Chief Olusegun Obasanjo said presidential aspirants who tell Nigerians that some groups bought their forms for them should be avoided as they are only lying.

The ex-president’s remarks resonated with many presidential aspirants like former Vice President, Atiku Abubakar, Governor Aminu Tambuwal of Sokoto State, former Senate President, Bukola Saraki, former Anambra Governor, Peter Obi, former two-term governor of Lagos State and a national leader of the APC, Asiwaju Tinubu and many others who claim some groups or individuals purchased nomination forms for them.