Benue State’s LGA Elections Hit by "Unruly Extortion" Charges, Says African Action Congress
The African Action Congress (AAC) has urged the Benue State Governor, Rev. Fr. Hyacinth Alia, to intervene and revoke what it calls "arbitrary charges" imposed on candidates participating in the upcoming Local Government Area (LGA) elections in Benue State. The election is scheduled to take place on October 5, 2024.
According to the AAC, the Benue State Independent Electoral Commission (BSIEC) has demanded that chairmanship candidates pay N500,000, while councillorship candidates must pay N250,000. In addition to these fees, BSIEC is also requiring handling charges of N115,000 and N90,000 for chairmanship and councillorship candidates, respectively.
The AAC Chairman, Rex I. Elanu, described the fees as "unruly extortion" and an attempt to undermine fairness and equity in the democratic process. In a statement, Elanu urged the Governor to act in the spirit of fairness and democracy, ensuring that all candidates, regardless of financial status, have a level playing field in the upcoming elections.
The AAC has criticized the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) for imposing high nomination fees for political aspirants, contrasting it with the AAC’s approach of providing free nomination forms to its candidates. The party stated that the high cost of politics in Nigeria should not prevent aspiring leaders from participating in the democratic process.
The party’s move comes amid growing concerns over the rising cost of politics in Nigeria. The AAC’s stance highlights the need for democratic processes to be fair, accessible, and inclusive for all candidates, regardless of their financial means.
In light of this development, international observers will be closely watching the upcoming LGA elections in Benue State, hoping for a smooth and transparent process that respects the rights of all participating candidates.
