The Ohanaeze Youth Council has expressed concern over the high cost of expression of interest forms for the upcoming local government election in Ebonyi, Nigeria. The All Progressive Congress is charging N30 million for the forms, which the council believes could lead to financial mismanagement in the future.
According to Igboayaka O. Igboayaka, National President of the Ohanaeze Youth Council, this exorbitant fee may discourage young people and individuals with integrity from participating in the election. He has called on Governor Francis Nwifuru to create a level playing field for all aspirants in the local government and councillorship polls.
Igboayaka suggested that the nomination fees for chairmanship and councillorship positions should be reduced to N150,000 and N50,000, respectively. He argued that lowering these fees would make the election more accessible to young people in Ebonyi and promote healthy competition among candidates.
The high cost of nomination forms has raised concerns that those who pay these fees may feel compelled to recoup their expenses by misusing local government funds if they are elected. Igboayaka warned against any attempts to undermine the economic and political development of Ebonyi state by discouraging young people from participating in the election.
The Ohanaeze Youth Council’s concerns highlight the need for transparency and accountability in the electoral process. By making the nomination process more affordable, the council hopes to encourage more young people to participate in the election and promote good governance in Ebonyi’s local governments. The outcome of this situation will be closely watched, as it may have significant implications for the state’s political and economic future.
