Lagos: The All Progressives Congress (APC) has set the nomination and administrative fees for aspirants vying for various positions in the upcoming July 12 Local Government Election in Lagos State.
According to News Agency of Nigeria, the nomination fees are detailed in the party's election guidelines, which were jointly signed by Pastor Cornelius Ojelabi and Dr. Adeola Jokomba, the APC chairman and secretary, respectively. The guidelines specify that chairmanship aspirants are required to pay a nomination fee of N5 million, along with an additional administrative fee of N500,000. Female chairmanship aspirants are charged a reduced nomination fee of N2.5 million, but the administrative fee remains the same at N500,000.
The APC has also introduced concessions for younger and disabled aspirants. Aspirants under the age of 40 will receive a 50% discount on their nomination fee, although they will still need to pay the full administrative fee of N500,000. Meanwhile, aspirants with disabilities are exempt from the nomination fee but are required to pay an administrative fee of N250,000.
For those seeking councillorship positions, the fees are structured differently. Male aspirants will pay N1 million for the nomination form and an additional N100,000 administrative fee, while female aspirants will pay N250,000 for the nomination form and the same N100,000 administrative fee. Youths aspiring for councillorship will receive a 50% discount on the nomination form fee, with the administrative fee remaining unchanged. Persons with Disabilities (PwDs) are entitled to collect nomination forms free of charge, with a nominal administrative fee of N50,000.
The APC guidelines further clarify that there will be no separate fee for the position of Vice Chairman and that all payments must be made via bank draft in favor of the All Progressives Congress, Lagos State. Nomination forms for the chairmanship position require the support of five registered party members who are voters in the aspirant's ward, local government, or LCDA, while councillorship forms require the endorsement of 20 registered members.
Eligibility criteria outlined by the party include Nigerian citizenship, educational qualifications, and age requirements-30 years for council and LCDA chairmanship and 25 years for councillorship. Aspirants must also provide evidence of party membership and demonstrate loyalty and active support for the party. Additionally, they must sign the party's Code of Conduct and be cleared by the Screening Committee to participate in the primaries.
The APC also mandates that any party officeholder interested in contesting for an elective office must resign 30 days before the election or party primary. All aspirants are required to comply with constitutional provisions and requirements for the public office they seek.