Behind The Scene Of APC's Primaries, Other Political Parties

The All Progressives Congress (APC) presidential candidate, Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu was elected in June last year, following the primaries of the ruling party.

Before Tinubu's emergence, the National Executive Committee (NEC) of the party had set up a committee led by Chief John Odigie-Oyegun to screen the presidential aspirants.

More so, all the presidential aspirants had bought, filled and returned the nomination form.

The nomination form, also known as the presidential form was on the high side, as the ruling party charged millions of naira.

A good number of Nigerians criticised the APC for the high cost of its expression of interest and nomination forms for the presidential nomination, as well as for governorship, house of representatives and for state house of assembly.

Moneybags slugged it out become APC candidate

Some concerned Nigerians, who have keen interest in the political affairs of the country stated that only APC members with deep pockets would buy the party's nomination forms.

When the APC made known to the public high prices of its forms, some aspiring party members could not afford to buy the forms.

Prices fixed for APC forms

All the nomination forms to contest for each of the different positions of the party were beyond what an average member of the party could afford.

In April, 2022, the ruling party ahead of the primaries fixed the cost of nomination form at various prices.

The presidential aspirants paid N100 million for both the expression of interest and the nomination forms for them to become the party's flag bearer.

Despite the high fees for the nomination and expression of interest forms, more than 10 contestants paid the fees for the two forms.

Payment for forms

In the context of the electoral act 2022, there is no sacrosanct provision on what aspiring members are to pay the political parties.

On the breakdown of the N100 million fees for the two forms to contest the presidential primaries, the cost of nomination form was n70 million, while expression of interest was n30 million.

The cost of nomination forms differ for each elective position. For the state house of assembly and house of representatives aspirants, the cost of nomination and expression of interest forms to contest were a combined amount of N2 million and N10 million respectively.

More so, senatorial aspirants coughed out N20 million. It should be added that the N20 million and other money the party charged were all non refundable.

Did APC wanted to change the gear before the presidential nomination of Tinubu?

The APC had informed Nigerians that it wanted its presidential candidate to succeed incumbent president, Muhammadu Buhari. Therefore, the ruling party wanted a flagbearer, who would win at the general elections.

Before the ruling party began selling the N100 million, N50 million, N10 million, N50 million and N2 million expression of interest and nomination forms, some of the critics of Tinubu said he was not in the race, and not one of the favourites to win the primaries.

Furthermore, sources had it that the ruling party national chairman, Senator Abdullahi Adamu and some party bigwigs wanted a consensus candidate from Northern Nigeria, after a meeting with President Muhammadu Buhari.

APC presidential aspirants

As the party in power, the APC had aspirants from people in and outside the government. For instance, vice president Yemi Osinbajo was in government, while Bola Ahmed Tinubu was not.

Some of the main APC presidential contestants were: Bola Tinubu, Yemi Osinbajo, Rotimi Amaechi, Ahmad Lawan, Yahaya Bello and Rochas Okorocha.

Others were: Ibikunle Amosun, Godswill Akpabio, Dave Umahi, Emeka Nwajiuba, Dimeji Bankole and Kayode Fayemi.

How Tinubu emerged

There were rife speculations in the camps of the opponents that Tinubu will not come close to the third position after the APC primaries.

Some social media posts had various unverified information that President Muhammadu Buhari will ensure someone else other than Tinubu wins.

Tinubu's political acumen

One of Rotimi Amaechi, former minister of Transportation and Emeka Nwajiuba, former minister of education (state) was said to be backed by the cabals inside Aso Rock.

For Tinubu, he had played his cards close to his chest and shocked the so-called anointed aspirants.

More so, Godswill Akpabio, Dimeji Bankole, Ibikunle Amosun and Kayode Fayemi were among those who stepped down for Tinubu on the night of the primaries.

Loyalty across the North

The role Northern Nigeria plays in Nigeria's political terrain is immense. While others were sleeping, far long before the primary election, Tinubu had won the hearts of the delegates from the North.

In Kwara state for instance, which is in North Central geopolitical zone, all the delegates voted for Tinubu to emerge as the APC presidential candidate.

APC presidential candidate speaks after victory

After the primary election results were announced, and Tinubu beat Amaechi, Osinbajo and Lawan to second, third and fourth positions respectively, he delivered his acceptance speech. The APC presidential candidate stated among other things that he would work with the other aspirants.

People's thoughts on prices of APC nomination forms and Buhari's anti-corruption campaign

A large number of Nigerians tongue lashed the President Buhari's anti-corruption war, following the party's highly priced nomination and expression of interest forms.

The public believed that since the party of the president was in charge, form prices should not have been above the roof for average APC members.

APC nomination form price list

The price list ranged from N2 million to N100 million, depending on the elective positions.

Each presidential aspirant paid N100 million, governorship was N50 million, house of representatives was N10 million, while house of assembly paid N2 million.

The APC however, considered women and people with disabilities when the party charged fees for the nomination forms. Similarly, aspiring party members who were below 40 years got their form prices reduced by 50 percent.

PDP and cost of its nomination forms

The main opposition party in Nigeria, the PDP did not charge as much as the APC for sale of forms.

Each PDP member who aspired for presidency and governorship positions paid N40 million and N21 million respectively for price of forms. 

Other political parties nomination form price list

Outside the four leading political parties (APC, PDP, NNPP and LP), political parties such as the Peoples Redemption Party (PRP) made its form prices affordable compared to the APC and PDP.

The PRP charged N10 million from its presidential aspirants, while it charged N100 thousand from house of assembly aspirants.

Young politicians say high prices of forms was discouraging

Some young Nigerians without political godfathers complained bitterly about being shut out by the big parties. For instance, where would a working class on N100 thousand monthly salary get N50 million to pay for the APC governorship forms?

NNPP nomination form price list

The New Nigeria Peoples Party (NNPP) whose presidential candidate is Dr Rabiu Musa Kwankwaso did not charge as much as the APC and PDP.

The NNPP charged three different fees from aspirants. They were nomination, expression of interest and administrative fees.

NNPP house of assembly aspirants each paid N300 thousand, N50 thousand and N300 thousand for nomination, expression of interest and administrative fees respectively.

Any lessons learnt

It is left for all political parties to ruminate on the high cost of forms. They should think inwardly and evaluate the impact of high cost of forms and the quality of emerged candidates.

Furthermore, political parties should not use the high cost of selling their forms as an excuse to raising funds for campaigns and rallies. 

Contributions by members far before primary elections should be enough to ensure nomination and expression of interest forms are not expensive.

Will the electoral act for next general election resolve the high cost of nomination forms of some political parties?

Some election stakeholders such as civil society organisations and the non major political parties should come together to make the next electoral act more robust. This will ensure that forms are sold at lower cost compared to 2022.

Election stakeholders should put their heads together on a balanced political system so that the big political parties will not stiffen them out with money politics. 

This article was written exclusively for Naijaloveinfo.