LG Election: Lagos4Lagos Condemns Lagos APC’s N2m Nomination Fee

Lagos4Lagos Movement, a strong political group in Lagos has condemned the N2 million nomination fee imposed on aspirants contesting for local governments chairmanship seats in Lagos State by the state chapter of the All Progressives Congress (APC). 
Speaking at a press briefing in Ikeja on Thursday, 6 May, 2021, the Principal Coordinator of the group, Honourable Olabode Makinde, described the fee Imposition as a “deliberate move to disenfranchise majority of the interested aspirants in favour of the incumbents and the anointed”. 
According to Makinde, “With our minimum wage standing at N30,000 a month, coupled with a harsh economy that got worsened by the pandemic, this move is clearly insensitive and definitely not in the interest of the ordinary Lagosian with inalienable rights to seek and contest the elective positions”. 
The Movement wondered why the electoral umpire, the Lagos State Independent Electoral Commission (LASIEC) put its fee at N150, 000 maximum and the party is placing such huge financial burden on the aspirants.
Makinde also criticised what the Movement described aa awkward screening exercise on the aspirants noting that, “the inclusion of candidates’ contributions to the party, experience in public service etc. are new and very subjective. Ideally, the only requirements should be as provided by our nation’s constitution. For instance, what possible contributions will a new, young candidate who joined the party, in its comatose state within the last year, have made in comparison with an incumbent aspirant who has been in the party for at least three years? 
Analysing the fees by both chairmanship and councillorship aspirants, Makinde stated that the N2 million fee for chairmanship aspirants and N500, 000 for councillorship is more than 200% increment from what was paid in 2017.
The Movement thus called for a review of the nomination fees saying it should not be more than N200, 000 maximum.