The All Progressives Congress (APC) in Ebonyi State has pegged the price of nomination for aspirants for local government chairman in the forthcoming local government election in the state at N20 million.
The party also pinned nomination form for councilors at N150, 000.
In a statement jointly signed by Stanley Okoro Emegha and Charles Chukwuma Ofoke, the party’s state Chairman and Secretary respectively, the APC also pegged expression of interest form at N500,000 and N50,000 for both chairmanship and councillorship candidates.
For those interested in being ward delegates, they are to pay N10,000.
The party, however, exempts women and aspirants younger that 49 years from paying for expression of interest forms.
The Ebonyi State Independent Electoral Commission (EBSIEC) has fixed July 20, 2024 for the local government election in the state.
The Chairman of the commission, Mr. Josy Eze had in April announced the timetable for the LGA elections.
“Under the provision of the constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria,1999,(as amended), the Ebonyi State Independent Electoral Commission Law, 2001, as amended, and the Ebonyi State Electoral and Related Matters Law, No. 001 of 2017, as amended, and all other powers enabling her in that behalf, the Ebonyi state independent electoral commission do hereby publish and give notice of local government council elections in Ebonyi State 2024.
“Further take notice that the date of elections (day of polls) is Saturday, 20 day of July, 2024 throughout Ebonyi state; and that Nomination papers are to be delivered at the commission’s headquarters, No.1 Onwe road, Abakaliki, Ebonyi State.
“Also take notice that it is further published in each of the thirteen local government areas and the one hundred and seventy-one electoral wards in Ebonyi state that elections are to be held,” Eze had announced.
Under the former governor of the state, David Umahi the Ebonyi State House of Assembly had amended the state local government law and stipulated a two-year tenure for local government chairmen and councilors.
Some members of the party who spoke to FACTSHEET on the condition of anonymity expressed disappointment in the “highly exorbitant” fee noting that there is hardly any politician in the state who is interested in the council election that could afford to pay the amount stipulated by the party.