The Inter-Party Advisory Council (IPAC) has condemned the exorbitant nomination fees demanded by some State Independent Electoral Commissions (SIECs) for local government elections, describing them as a violation of the 1999 Constitution, the Electoral Act 2022, and Supreme Court rulings that have declared such fees illegal and unconstitutional.
In a statement issued in Abuja, IPAC National Chairman, Alhaji Yusuf Mamman Dantalle, criticised these fees as an attempt by anti-democratic forces to undermine Nigeria’s democracy and the financial autonomy recently granted to local governments by the Supreme Court.
Dantalle expressed outrage over the Kaduna State SIEC’s demand for ₦11 million for chairmanship candidates and ₦2.2 million for councillorship candidates in the local government elections scheduled for October 19, 2024.
He also condemned the Kano State SIEC’s nomination fees of ₦10 million for chairmanship candidates and ₦5 million for councillorship candidates in the November 30, 2024, polls, as well as the Jigawa State SIEC’s fees of ₦5 million and ₦2 million for similar positions in the October 5, 2024, elections.
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“It is evident that these state governments do not want sustainable democracy at the local level.
“The outrageous fees signal to opposition parties and other aspirants, particularly those who cannot afford them, that they are excluded from participating in the elections,” Dantalle stated.
He emphasised that running for office is a constitutional right, especially at the grassroots and that it is unjust to prevent credible candidates from participating due to exorbitant fees.
He demanded the withdrawal of these illegal fees in line with the Supreme Court rulings and urged the SIECs to conduct free, fair and credible elections.
In a separate statement, Dantalle has criticised the Anambra State Electoral Law 2024, which was passed quickly by the State House of Assembly ahead of the September 28, 2024, local government election. He labelled the law an “attack on Nigeria’s democracy”.
Dantalle particularly opposed Section 24(11) of the law, which stipulates that the nomination of candidates by a political party must be communicated by either the state or national chairman and secretary of the party, as recognised by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC).
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