The All Progressives Congress (APC) has rejected a widely circulated report claiming to list the prices of expression of interest and nomination forms for the 2027 general elections. The report, which surfaced on March 26 and 27, alleged that presidential aspirants would pay N200 million for nomination forms, governorship hopefuls N150 million, senatorial candidates N100 million, House of Representatives aspirants N70 million, and state assembly contenders N20 million.
The party's National Publicity Secretary, Felix Morka, issued a statement on Saturday, stating that no decision had been made on the sale or pricing of forms for the next electoral cycle. He described the report as "a mere figment of the writer's imagination" and urged party members, the media, and the public to disregard it entirely.
The denial came hours after the party's national convention in Abuja, where a new National Working Committee was elected to steer the party's affairs for the next four years. Despite the party's swift rebuttal, the alleged figures had already sparked a heated debate about the soaring cost of political participation in Nigeria.
Legal practitioner John Oloyede, speaking on Channels Television, cited the figures as evidence of the systemic monetization of politics, warning that such high barriers to entry exclude capable but less wealthy Nigerians from seeking public office.
The controversy has reignited concerns about the cost of politics in Nigeria, with many questioning the role of money in the electoral process.
The APC's swift dismissal of the report is a welcome development, but it raises more questions than answers. The party's silence on the actual pricing of nomination forms has fuelled speculation and public distrust. The fact that the alleged figures have already sparked a heated debate about the cost of politics in Nigeria highlights the urgent need for transparency and accountability in the electoral process. The APC must provide clear and accurate information about the pricing of nomination forms to restore public trust and confidence in the party. As the 2027 general elections approach, Nigerians are watching closely to see if the APC will live up to its promise of a more inclusive and transparent electoral process.
