Potential Presidential candidates from the All Progressive Party (APC), have threatened to dump the party over excessives fees.
According to the Punch, aspirants hoping for nomination for the Governorship, national and state assemblies race were left aghast at the prices set for nomination and expression of interest forms.
The Punch reports that the APC’s National Working Committee had proposed N55m as the cost of the nomination and expression of interest forms for the office of President, which is a far cry from the N12m it’s going to cost PDP aspirants.
The other forms are also equally expensive with forms for state houses of assembly going for N1.1m (as opposed to PDP’s N600,000)
READ: 2019: My Declaration Was Made In Good Faith – Saraki
House of Representatives forms are going for N3.8m and the senate is going for N8.5m while those seeking to contest for state governorship elections are being asked to fork out N22.5m while PDP’s costs just N6m
This has drawn the ire of potential aspirants who feel the prices are ridiculous.
According to a Source of the Punch who is well placed in the NEC, the party leadership plans to remain immovable on the topic.
“As a party, we want people who have capacity and what we are asking for is reasonable in the circumstance. Even Mr. President (Muhammadu Buhari) expressed his reservations about the cost of the forms.” said the source who spoke on the condition of anonymity.
“A party member reminded him that his nomination forms were paid for by his teeming supporters across the country. He was also told that his support base has increased considerably.
“Our (national) chairman even jokingly told the President that the party was prepared to give him a discount if he asks for it and we all joked about it.”
The Punch also spoke to one of the aspirants who also spoke on the condition of anonymity so as not to upset negotiations and he said: “We will be meeting either tomorrow (Sunday) or Monday to prepare a template on the way forward.
“We will give the party the choice of either reviewing the costs downwards or be prepared for mass defections which will certainly follow.”