Even our Representatives are complaining about the costs of forms – here is what they said

by Laila Ibrahim

Some members of the House of Representatives have complained about the high cost of the forms for nomination for the 2015 general elections being sold by Nigeria’s political parties.

A lawmaker, Aminu Jonathan Punuwet, (PDP-Plateau) said that the cost and high cost of campaigns made the practice of democracy an exclusive right of the elite.

“It is for people who have the wherewithal to participate in the process of democracy,” Punuwet said, “Look at the sum of money needed in this democratic process. The one that is quite worrisome is the issue of young persons who are at 25 years.

“A member of the house of assembly, as provided by the constitution, is from age of 25 and how can a person at 25 years have access to N1.5 million to buy forms?

“So to an extent, this is a contradiction.

“I think that this does not give room for people who are really having the desire to contribute meaningfully to the country because of the issue of funds,” Punuwet concluded.

Speaking in the same vein, Umar Jubril (APC-Kogi), said that the costs of the forms tend to make qualified politicians to shelve their ambitions. Jubril said that although parties used the sale as means of raising funds, it also contributed to the high cost of political campaigns in the country.

The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) presidential forms costs N22 million; Senatorial, House of Representatives and State Assembly forms cost N4.5 million, N2.5 million and N1.2 million respectively.

For the All Progressives Congress (APC), aspirants to the office of the President are expected to pay N27.5 million.

Comments (4)

  1. WOW!!! What this people a doing in dis country is getting out of sence. May God see us through and change ds terrible leaders 4 us.

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