The All Progressives Congress (APC) in Taraba State has warned that it will pursue legal action against the Taraba State Independent Electoral Commission (TSIEC) over what it deems unconstitutional and exorbitant nomination fees for the upcoming local government elections. At a press conference in Jalingo, APC State Chairman Ibrahim Tukur El‑Sudi condemned the TSIEC’s fee structure, arguing that it is intended to suppress opposition parties and limit participation in the electoral process.
TSIEC’s guidelines stipulate that chairmanship aspirants must pay a non‑refundable fee of N1 million, while vice‑chairmanship aspirants are required to pay N500,000. Female candidates for chairmanship and vice‑chairmanship are expected to pay N250,000, and for councillorship seats male candidates must pay N150,000 and female candidates N75,000. El‑Sudi contended that these charges are unconstitutional and violate democratic principles, noting that the constitution does not require any fees to be paid to the electoral commission. He described the fees as a ploy to frustrate political parties, especially amid economic hardship, and called on TSIEC to withdraw them from its election guidelines immediately, saying the financial demands place undue burdens on aspirants and hinder inclusive democratic participation.
El‑Sudi also criticized the Taraba State Board of Internal Revenue for imposing tax clearance fees of N1 million for chairmanship aspirants and N500,000 for those contesting councillorship positions, labeling these amounts as excessive and unreasonable. He urged an urgent downward review to ensure fairness.
Despite these grievances, the APC has successfully conducted its primaries across all sixteen councils in the state and is prepared to contest the elections scheduled for November. The party reaffirmed its commitment to credible, free, and fair local government elections, but warned that failure by the electoral body to address these concerns could result in legal consequences, emphasizing the need for a fair and inclusive electoral process.
Comments are closed for this story.