A human rights lawyer based in Abuja, Pelumi Olajengbesi, has described as outrageous the N20m the All Progressives Congress is charging for the party’s chairmanship form.
Pelumi noted that such a huge amount automatically discourages women and youths from partaking in the party’s activities.
The ruling party had announced that ahead of its March 26 National Convention, those vying for the post of national chairman will pay N20m, while those vying for the Deputy national chairman will part with N10m, while zonal chairmen and other officers would pay N5m to obtain nomination forms.
He said, “Political parties in Nigeria are clearly dishonest about their readiness to encourage, assimilate and give young men and women the much needed room and encouragement to participate in the political process, and this is underscored by the monetisation of the entire process from the picking of nomination or intent forms to the width of consultation and ‘compromises’ on.
“I, however, gave him N5million naira towards that end and other well meaning friends and family raised the N15million in less than three hours, and I must say I am really proud of the demonstrated enthusiasm and support for his ambition by mutuals.
“My long time friend, Mohammed Saidu Etsu, a founding member of the APC is a 35 years old man who indicated interest to be the National Chairman of the APC and I promised him I’d buy him his nomination form as a show of support for his ambition only for me to hear last night that the APC National Chairmanship Form goes for 20 million naira. I wondered at my promise immediately.
“I met Mohammed Saidu Etsu in the University of Abuja where about nine of us shared the same room. We all usually slept on the hard floor together before we bought a bed. I know Mohammed is a decent, hard working and cosmopolitan young man who will certainly make impact in our country. He was at my office after picking his form and I wish him well in his election.”
