Controversy Trails Lokoja PDP’s Increase on Nomination Fees
BY ABU IDRISU
Controversy has trailed the increase on the amount of money charged for the expression of interest and nomination forms for the House of Representatives and state assembly by the Lokoja Local Government chapter of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in Kogi State.
Daily Trust gathered that the party leadership in the council has added N2.875 million for House of Representatives aspirants and N1.3 million for those vying for the House of Assembly in addition to the initial sum fixed by the national leadership of the PDP.
Speaking to our correspondent on the development, a chieftain of the PDP in Lokoja, Abdullahi Yusuf Abdullahi, appealed to the party’s National Chairman Ahmadu Adamu Mu’azu to stop the charging of what he described as illegal fees.
He alleged that the increase was meant to drive other aspirants away from vying for the positions as the party executive has preferred candidates for the positions.
“National body fixed N500,000 for expression of interest, and N2 million for nomination form for House of Reps, but Lokoja council executive added another N2.5 million, local government and committee administrative charges N250,000 and ward charges N125,000, amounting to N2.875 million,” he alleged.
When contacted, PDP chairman in Lokoja, Muhammed Tanimu Muhammed, said the money was meant to kick-start campaigns of aspirants that emerged flag-bearers of the party.
“It was agreed with all the aspirants, with the exception of Baba Sule Dansarki, who was bereaved, that they should deposit the equivalent fees of the nomination form with the secretariat. We also agreed that those who withdrew before the primary will have their money refunded, and after the primary, those who lost will also have their money refunded, while the winner will not have his own refunded,” he said.
Controversy has trailed the increase on the amount of money charged for the expression of interest and nomination forms for the House of Representatives and state assembly by the Lokoja Local Government chapter of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in Kogi State.
Daily Trust gathered that the party leadership in the council has added N2.875 million for House of Representatives aspirants and N1.3 million for those vying for the House of Assembly in addition to the initial sum fixed by the national leadership of the PDP.
Speaking to our correspondent on the development, a chieftain of the PDP in Lokoja, Abdullahi Yusuf Abdullahi, appealed to the party’s National Chairman Ahmadu Adamu Mu’azu to stop the charging of what he described as illegal fees.
He alleged that the increase was meant to drive other aspirants away from vying for the positions as the party executive has preferred candidates for the positions.
“National body fixed N500,000 for expression of interest, and N2 million for nomination form for House of Reps, but Lokoja council executive added another N2.5 million, local government and committee administrative charges N250,000 and ward charges N125,000, amounting to N2.875 million,” he alleged.
When contacted, PDP chairman in Lokoja, Muhammed Tanimu Muhammed, said the money was meant to kick-start campaigns of aspirants that emerged flag-bearers of the party.
“It was agreed with all the aspirants, with the exception of Baba Sule Dansarki, who was bereaved, that they should deposit the equivalent fees of the nomination form with the secretariat. We also agreed that those who withdrew before the primary will have their money refunded, and after the primary, those who lost will also have their money refunded, while the winner will not have his own refunded,” he said.
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