Human rights activists have criticised the deliberate attempt by the All Progressive Party (APC) to scheme out a large number of stakeholders from contesting its presidential, senatorial and House Representatives primaries by putting in place prices that are  way out of reach of average  members of the party

 Shehu Sani, a former Kaduna Central Senator, who reacted to this development through his Twitter handle, said, money is the root of all problems.

He wrote, ”When you ask politicians why the nomination form is so expensive, they will say it’s to “drive away unserious ones”. Their prerequisite for “serious leadership aspirations” is money, That is the root of all problems.”

 That is the root of all problems, the amount for the presidential nomination forms of the ruling All Progressives Congress, APC

The APC on Wednesday said aspirants for senatorial positions would pay N20 million for the forms while those for the House of Representatives would pay N10 million.  While presidential aspirants would pay N100million.

The party’s NEC had also approved May 30 and June 1, for its special convention for the 2023 presidential primary election and May 18 for its governorship primaries.

While reacting to this report, activist Deji Adeyanju has slammed the ruling party for pegging the nomination fees at such amount. In a post on his verified Facebook handle, the convener of the Concerned Nigerians advocacy group remarked that the APC fees for nomination forms are outrageous while noting that it will encourage corruption.

He accused the party of subjecting Nigerians to untold hardship and pains over their failure to fulfil their 2015 electioneering campaign.

Meanwhile, the party may settle for the indirect primary option to choose its candidates for the 2023 election. 

Governor Atiku Bagudu of Kebbi State said this after the APC 11th National Executive Committee meeting held at the Transcorp Hotel in Abuja.

“There was no explicit discussion about the mode of primary but the timetable seems to suggest it is indirect primaries,” the governor said after the meeting on Wednesday.

The governor, who also spoke about the cost of nomination and expression of interest forms, said the party deliberated on giving discounts to young people.

“I think what was earlier proposed by the NWC was 40 percent and there were contributions that it should be 50 per cent,” he said.

 Earlier in the day, the party’s National Publicity Secretary Felix Morka said the nomination and expression of interest forms for those vying for the presidential post have been pegged at N100m.

According to him, those interested in the governorship tickets of their states are to pay N50m for the forms.

Before Morka’s comment, President Muhammadu Buhari had presided over the extraordinary emergency meeting of the APC NEC.

Those who attended include Vice President Yemi Osinbajo; Senate President Ahmad Lawan; Speaker of the House of Representatives Femi Gbajabiamila; and Governor Fayemi of Ekiti, among other leaders of the party.

Already, several high-profile politicians in the country have indicated an interest in vying for the presidential ticket of the ruling party.

Vice President Yemi Osinbajo last week formally declared his intention to contest for the post. Hours ago, the Minister of Labour and Employment Senator Chris Ngige also joined the race.

The Transportation Minister Rotimi Amaechi; former Lagos State Governor Bola Tinubu; Governor Yahaya Bello of Kogi State and his Ebonyi counterpart Dave Umahi have also formally declared their intention for the presidential seat.