By Ikechukwu Okaforadi
New Nigeria Peoples Party (NNPP) yesterday said only those who have looted the national treasury and eager to loot more can afford the All Progressive Congress (APC) N100 million nomination fees to run for president and N50 million for governorship in a depressed economy run by borrowing from foreign countries and institutions.
A statement issued yesterday by the National Publicity Secretary of NNPP, Agbo Major, said the decision of National Executive Committee (NEC) of APC to peg the party’s presidential nomination and expression of interest forms at such high prices is a clear indication that there is nothing democratic about the ruling party.
In this regards, NNPP said it is time for Nigerians to reject APC and opt for NNPP, adding that the prices of the forms are unfair, unjust, despicable and insensitive to the plights and sufferings of Nigerians who have been impoverished by the APC government.
“It is obvious that Nigerian democracy is under constant attacks by the outgoing APC government.
“The New Nigeria Peoples Party (NNPP) condemns in strong terms the outrageous nomination fees imposed on aspirants contesting various elective positions by the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) ahead of the 2023 general election”, the party said.
The opposition party lamented that to impose nomination fees of N100 million for aspirants vying for President, N50 million for Governor, N20 million for Senate, N10 million for House of Representatives and N2 million for State House of Assembly shows that APC is out to rip off its aspirants.
It said the aim of the party was to sell its tickets to the highest bidder, encourage godfatherism and shut out patriotic and resourceful aspirants, particularly women, youth and those with disability to continue its infamous recycling of retired, tired and docile party stalwarts with no agenda for a better Nigeria.
The party therefore called on the EFCC and ICPC to thoroughly investigate the source of income of any person who purchases the APC nomination form, noting that the era of hoodwinking the masses by falsely claiming that a group has purchased a nomination form for an aspirant is over.
“Anti graft agencies should also investigate members of the purported group to ascertain the sources of the funds raised. This is the only way the nation’s electoral process will be sanitized of money politics that has imposed clueless leaders on the populace.
“The consequence is the lingering political upheavals, insecurity, economic depression, moral decadence, religious disharmony and ethnic division across the country.
“All Nigerians want a New Nigeria which only the New Nigeria People’s Party (NNPP) can usher in. All marginalized citizens should take refuge in NNPP for reintegration, restoration of humanity dignity and prosperity; register with the party and obtain affordable nomination forms to contest all elective offices. It is a giant step forward for a greater and better Nigeria.
“The outgoing government is already suffering from leadership fatigue and confused on the way forward. Together, we shall vote out its candidates for 2023 general election and usher in a New Nigeria on the platform of NNPP. This is our chance to effect a change through the ballot and return power back to the people. We are all in it together to make Nigeria the great arsenal of democracy in Africa”, the party said in the statement.
