Kano LG polls: Political parties threaten court action over high costs of nomination fees

From Desmond Mgboh, Kano

Each political party and its candidates will require the sum of N2.86 billion to purchase nomination forms for the forthcoming Kano State Local Government elections scheduled to hold on Nov. 30th. This figure followed the decision of the Kano State Independent Electoral Commission to peg the cost of the nomination forms at N10m and N5m respectively for Chairman and Councillorship candidates in the election.

There are a total of 44 local government councils and 484 wards in the state, which translates to N440 million and N2.4 billion for any party that decides to fully participate in the elections.

Defending the set fee against the backdrop of protests from political parties and civil society groups, the Chairman of KANSIEC, Sani Lawal Manufashi explained that prices of goods and services have witnessed an unprecedented increase in the country. He added that the cost of the nomination forms was affected by the costs of goods and services needed to conduct a free, fair and successful election. While admitting that the commission was not a money-earning agency for the state government, he noted that they were not a charity organisation either.

Describing the fee as outrageous and a clear disincentive to democracy, Secretary to the All Progressive Congress in the state, Selima Zakari told Saturday Sun that his party would go to court on the matter. 

“Who has N5m to pay because he wants to contest for the position of a councilor? or N10m because he wants to contest for chairman? How is he going to recover this money? These KANSIEC people are not sincere, they cannot give us a free and fair election” he asserted.

He also faulted the composition of the management team of KANSEIC.

State Secretary, Peoples Redemption Party (PRP), Musa Maigari also blasted KANSIEC for the high cost of nomination forms, while assuring that they too would approach the court.  He expressed doubts at the ability of KANSIEC to conduct free and fair elections in the state.

However, the State Chairman of the New Nigeria Peoples Party, Hashimu Dunguruwa expressed satisfaction with the amount set by KANSIEC, saying that N10m and N5m were in line with the amounts charged by neighbouring states.