The two leading political parties,the All Progressives Congress (APC) and the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) have announced the cost of Expression of Interest and Nomination forms and dates of primary election for bye – elections into vacant legislative seats.

The development is coming ahead of the 3rd February ,2024 National and State Houses of Assembly bye-elections fixed by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC).

The by-elections holding on 3 February 2024 would be conducted into Ebonyi South Senatorial District of Ebonyi State; Yobe East Senatorial District of Yobe State; Plateau North Senatorial District of Plateau State; Akoko North East/Akoko North West Federal Constituency of Ondo State.

Others are Jalingo/Zorro/Zing Federal Constituency of Taraba State; Surulere 1 Federal Constituency of Lagos State; Yauri/Shanga/Ngaski Federal Constituency of Kebbi State; Chibok State Constituency of Borno State; Chikun State Constituency of Kaduna State; Guma State Constituency of Benue State.

The ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) pegged the cost of its Expression of Interest and Nomination forms at N20 million for senatorial contestants, the House of Representatives forms for N10 million and State House of Assembly at N2 million.

For the PDP, the party pegged its cost of expression of interest form for Senate and House of Representatives at N500,000 each, while that of nomination form at N3 million and N2 million respectively.

Contestants for the House of Assembly, the expression of interest form was fixed at N100,000 while the cost of nomination form is N600,000.

Alhaji Bature stated that female aspirants and Persons Living Disabilities (PWD) were to pay for expression of interest forms only.

“Youths (male/female) below 40 years are to purchase Expression of Interest forms, but with a 50 per cent discount on nomination forms,” he said.

The APC National Organising Secretary, Alhaji Sulaiman Argungu, who disclosed this in a notice in Abuja on Monday said the expression of interest form for senatorial seat was N3 million and nomination form for the same position was N17 million.

Alhaji Argungu said the expression of interest form for House of Representatives aspirants was N1million and nomination form was N9million while State House of Assembly expression of interest form was N500,000 while nomination form was N1.5 million.

According to him, the expression of interest forms will be free for female aspirants and those with disabilities while youths between ages 25 and 40 years are to purchase the expression of interest at 50% discount for the nomination forms for each position.

“Youths (male/female) below 40 years are to purchase Expression of Interest forms, but with a 50 per cent discount on nomination forms,” he said.

The former deputy governor of Kebbi State further disclosed that delegates who will nominate the candidates are to purchase forms at N5,000.

The APC National Organising Secretary said both the expression of interest and nomination forms will be purchased at the party’s national secretariat at Wuse 2 in Abuja.

According to him,the sale of the forms will begin on Wednesday, December 27, 2023 while the last day of submission is on January 3, 2024.

He said primary elections will take place on 6th January , 2024 and primary appeal committee would sit on 7th January ,2024 while the list of candidates would be sent to INEC on 9th January , 2024.

For the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) the conduct of its primaries would hold on 8th January 2024 .

The party in a timetable and schedule of activities for the party primaries issued by its National Organising Secretary, Alhaji Umar Bature, fixed 28 December to 3rd January , 2024 for the period of sales of nomination and expression of interest forms.

Alhaji Bature said that the screening of aspirants would also hold on 4th January ,2024, while appeal for party primaries would hold on 9 January 2024.

According to him, the last day for the submission of candidate’s name to INEC nomination portal would be 12 January while the last day for nomination of party agents is scheduled for 20 January 2024.