NYC Asks APC, PDP to Reverse Outrageous Nomination Fees

• Threatens nationwide protest
• Says selling forms at N22.5m unacceptable

Victor Ogunje in Ado Ekiti

The Nigerian Youth Congress (NYC) yesterday criticised major political parties in the country for charging outrageous nomination fees beyond the reach of the youths.

NYC, a radical left leaning organization founded in 1960, described such tendencies as anti-democratic and anti-youth, which it said, was objectionable and unacceptable.

The Chairman of Ekiti NYC, Mr. Tosin Adesuyi expressed this concern in a statement yesterday, calling for immediate review of the nomination fees to make it affordable for the youth.
While the the People’s Democratic Party fixed its nomination fee and expression of interest for 2021 governorship in Anambra State for N21 million, the All Progressives Congress is charging N22.5 million as nomination fee in Ekiti.

In its statement, the congress blasted both parties for charging several millions of naira as nomination fees that precluded the youths from vying for the governorship seats in some states.
Adesuyi said: “That the party nomination form for APC in Ekiti governorship primary will be sold for N22.5 million is deliberate or calculated strategy to stand against or contradict the not too young to run bill signed into law by the APC-led government.

“Obviously, the leadership of APC party has shown to us through such a release that they were and are only paying lip service to our pains and no doubt our pains are their pleasures.

“It is our position that the party should quickly reverse this anti youth decision within 21 days, failure which we will resort to protest to express our displeasure, rejection and agitation against such arrangement.”

Adesuyi said it was wrong for the ruling party to technically shut its doors and windows of political opportunities against the qualified young that considered the platform a veritable one to participate in the election and take over.

“It is also our opinion that the party is technically encouraging the youth who have better things to offer in governance to go desperately on illicit means to bring money into the party for their personal favour before he/she could be offered the opportunity to lead.

“We know that N22.5 million naira is nothing to some young people and they can afford to pay because they are far above the average class.

“But the average class person that will be privileged to purchase this nomination form at this amount, will either for the reason