PDP prices nomination forms for Kogi and Bayelsa governorship elections at a whopping N20m

NIGERIA'S main opposition the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) has fixed the gubernatorial candidate forms for candidates willing to seek its ticket for the forthcoming Kogi and Bayelsa State elections at N20m ($55,333).

On November 16, Bayelsa and Kogi states will both go to the polls to elect new governors and under the timetable published by the Independent National Electoral Commission (Inec), the official notice will be issued on August 1, while political parties must hold their primaries between August 2 and 29. Parties sponsoring candidates are required to submit the list of their agents not later than October 2, while campaigns by political parties in public shall commence on August 2.

In both states, the battle is expected to be between the PDP and the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC). Already, several aspirants from both parties have already thrown their hats into the ring with Governor Yahaya Bello gunning for a second term in Kogi State and controversial Senator Dino Melaye challenging him as a PDP candidate.

Yesterday, after holding a National Executive Committee meeting, the PDP declared that nomination forms will cost N20m, while the mandatory Expression of Interest fee will be N1m for every aspirant. PDP spokesman Kola Ologbondiyan, added, however, that female aspirants would be able to get nominated for free.

Earlier this year, the PDP charged its governorship aspirants only N5m during the general elections.  Defending the upward review in nomination fees, Mr Ologbondiyan attributed the development to the rising cost of printing the various electoral materials and the huge cost of conducting primary elections and other logistics.

He added that the sale of nomination forms for the two states will commence from June 24 and last until July 24, while the submission deadline is July 31. Screening of aspirants in the two states will take place on August 19, while the screening appeal panel will sit and decide cases on August 21.