2019 POLLS: APC increases cost of forms for presidency by N18m, govs by N17m

The ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) has surely come a long way from its first outing four years ago, at least in terms of what aspirants have to pay to obtain its forms for elective offices.

According to a statement released by the party on Wednesday, those aspiring for its presidential ticket will have to pay N5 million for expression of interest form and N40 million for the nomination form, making a total of N45 million.

This is an increase of N18 million, over 80 per cent of what the party charged for the same forms four years ago, when it collected N27 million for both forms (expression and nomination).

It would be recalled then, that the incumbent President Muhammadu Buhari had told Nigerians that he could not afford it, and that his friends and well wishers had to contribute to get him the forms.

In 2015, for those aspiring for its gubernatorial tickets, the party had fixed different prices for incumbent governors, and fresh aspirants, ostensibly to create a sort of level field for all.

However, this has changed four years later, as both sitting governors and fresh aspirants are to pay the same price of N2.5 million for expression of interest form and N20 million for nomination form making it N22.5 million.

But for the 2015 elections, APC incumbent governors, who wished to run for a second term were charged a total of N10.5 million, while fresh aspirants paid N5.5 million.

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This is an increase of N12 million for incumbent governors, and a whopping N17 million for fresh aspirants wishing to contest the governorship election under the APC platform.

The cost of forms for other elective offices have also been increased as against what the party charges for the 2015 elections.

In 2015, in the upper chamber of the National Assembly, sitting senators paid N5.3 million while fresh aspirants coughed out N3.3 million.

But now, aspirants will pay N1m for the expression of interest form and N6m for a nomination form, making N7million.

For the House of Representatives, an aspirant will pay N3.85 million which including N350,000 for the expression of interest form and N3.5million for the nomination form.

In 2015, incumbent aspirants for this position paid N3.2 million, while fresh aspirants paid N2.2 million.

The APC has also asked House of Assembly aspirants to pay N850,000, including N100,000 for the expression of interest form and N750,000 for the nomination form.

This same form in 2015 cost sitting lawmakers of Houses of Assembly N800, 000, while fresh aspirants paid N550, 000.

The party, which is giving aspirants six days to pay for and collect the forms, however gave a 50 per cent discount for female and physically challenged aspirants.

The party also on Tuesday released the dates for its nationwide congresses to elect delegates which would be held on September 12, while on September 13 and 14 appeals arising from the congress would be heard.

It added that from September 15 to September 18, aspirants who had purchased forms would be screened.

On September 19 and September 20, there will be appeals arising from the screening of aspirants to various posts.

See the schedule below:

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