The Inter Party Advisory Council (IPAC) has strongly condemned the excessive fees charged for nomination forms by several State Independent Electoral Commissions (SIECs) as part of the requirements for local government elections. IPAC argues that these fees are in direct violation of the 1999 Constitution, the Electoral Act 2022, and various Supreme Court rulings that have declared such fees illegal and unconstitutional.
In a statement issued by Yusuf Mamman Dantalle, IPAC’s National Chairman, the Council expressed deep concern about what it perceives as deliberate attempts by anti-democratic forces to undermine Nigeria’s emerging democracy.
The Council pointed out that the recent financial autonomy granted to local governments by the Supreme Court, in line with the Nigerian Constitution, is being threatened by these high nomination fees.
The Council is particularly outraged by the exorbitant fees set by different state electoral commissions;
• Kaduna State: The Kaduna State Independent Electoral Commission has set the nomination fee at a staggering N11 million for candidates vying for the position of chairman and N2.2 million for those running for councillorship positions. These fees are for the local government elections scheduled for October 19, 2024.
• Kano State: Similarly, the Kano State Independent Electoral Commission (KANSIEC) has imposed fees of N10 million for chairmanship candidates and N5 million for councillorship candidates. These fees apply to the local government elections scheduled for November 30, 2024.
• Jigawa State: The Jigawa State Independent Electoral Commission (JISIEC) has set the fees at N5 million for chairmanship candidates and N2 million for those running for councillorship positions for the elections on October 5, 2024.
IPAC contends that these high fees effectively exclude less wealthy candidates from participating in the elections. This practice undermines the democratic process by making it accessible only to the financially privileged and denying opportunities to qualified candidates who cannot afford such high costs.
The Council emphasizes that running for office is a constitutional right for all Nigerian citizens, especially at the grassroots level, where politics is closest to the people. IPAC argues that it is unjust to prevent credible candidates from running for office due to unaffordable nomination fees imposed by supposedly impartial electoral bodies. Such practices, according to the Council, are akin to selling elective positions, which is unacceptable and contrary to democratic principles.
The issue of illegal nomination fees is not new. The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) had previously imposed a N500,000 processing fee for presidential candidates. This fee was challenged in court and declared illegal and unconstitutional by Justice Binta Murtala-Nyako. Similarly, the Ekiti State Independent Electoral Commission faced legal action over its N5,000 fee for councilor candidates, which was also ruled unconstitutional.
The Osun State High Court invalidated fees of N50,000 for chairmanship candidates and N25,000 for councillorship candidates in local government elections, stating that such fees were beyond the powers of state electoral commissions. IPAC is calling for the immediate withdrawal of these illegal fees and urges all SIECs to conduct local government elections in a fair, transparent, and democratic manner.
The Council advocates for the complete autonomy of local governments and the dissolution of state electoral commissions to prevent further interference and ensure that the electoral process remains free and accessible to all qualified candidates. IPAC stresses the need to strengthen Nigeria’s democracy and ensure that the electoral process is inclusive and fair for all participants.
