Political parties have called on the Lagos State Independent Electoral Commission (LASIEC) to lower the nomination fees for candidates participating in the Local Government election scheduled for July 12.
This request was made during a stakeholders meeting held on Tuesday in Lagos, which included representatives from LASIEC and various political parties.
Leaders from the All Progressives Congress (APC) and opposition parties expressed differing opinions regarding LASIEC’s administrative fees for the forthcoming election. There was a debate on whether to increase, decrease, or eliminate the nomination fees entirely from the election guidelines that are yet to be published.
During the Stakeholders Meeting, which was organized by LASIEC in anticipation of the election guidelines’ release on Thursday, party leaders articulated their positions.
In the 2021 election guidelines, LASIEC set the nomination fees at N150,000 for chairmanship, N100,000 for vice-chairmanship, and N75,000 for councillorship positions.
Many opposition parties requested that LASIEC reduce the 2021 fees by 50 percent, citing the current economic challenges in Nigeria.
Conversely, the ruling APC suggested that the fees should be increased to align with the current economic conditions.
Mr. Sam Okpala, Secretary of the Labour Party in Lagos, urged LASIEC to lower the fees to alleviate the financial burden on candidates.
Mr. Dele Oladeji, Chairman of the Accord Party in Lagos, pointed out that Ogun State successfully conducted Local Government elections without imposing nomination fees.
“LASIEC should not operate as a revenue-generating body. If the fees cannot be eliminated, they should at least be significantly reduced,” Oladeji emphasized. He cautioned that excessive fees could deter capable citizens from running for office, advocating for either the removal of the fees or a 50 percent reduction.
Mr. Kehinde Jegede, General Secretary of the African Action Congress (AAC), also supported the call for a 50 percent reduction in fees to prevent disenfranchisement.
Chief Adewale Bolaji, Chairman of the Action Democratic Party (ADP), argued that nomination forms should be provided free of charge.
“Political parties have ceased charging for forms due to the prevailing economic circumstances,” he noted.
“Forcing individuals to pay amounts they cannot afford will eliminate many potential candidates,” Bolaji stated.
Mr. Johnson Ololade from the All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA) expressed that if the fees cannot be lowered, the rates from 2021 should be maintained.
On the other hand, Dr. Adeola Jokomba, the APC Secretary in Lagos, opposed any reduction in nomination fees, emphasizing the importance of progress.
“While the economic situation is challenging, we should not regress. I propose that we either keep the current fees or increase them, but we should not lower them,” Jokomba remarked.
Dr. Dayo Ekong, Chairperson of the Lagos Labour Party, called on LASIEC to eliminate fees for women and individuals with disabilities.
In response, LASIEC Chairman, Retired Justice Mobolanle Okikiola-Ighile, assured that all recommendations would be taken into account prior to the release of the final guidelines.
