The All Progressives Congress, APC, National Publicity Secretary, Felix Morka has said that the decision of the ruling party to peg it’s nomination and expression of interest forms for N100 million was very critical.
It would be called that the party had on Wednesday put its presidential forms for N100 million, governorship N50 million; Senate, N20 million; House of Representatives, N10 million and State Houses of Assembly, N2 million.
But Nigerians have since had different views on the development, blaming the party for being insensitive to the current economic realities and for making participatory democracy difficult.
But Felix Morka, when asked if the party considered the present economic situation in the country before the price was fixed, told Channels Television this:, “What is the current situation in the country? We still live in a country where there are people who make legitimate money.”
Denying that the party was for the rich, he said, “The party is not for the rich. I just told you that for instance, any woman who wants to run for the office of the President is not paying the full amount. The youths as well.”
When asked who advised the party on the price tags, he said, “The party advised the party. The party thinks that…and decided that the value put on these forms are justified.
- “Don’t forget that some of the most special groups of citizens were granted high considerations. Either delivering the nomination forms for free in the case of women and people living with disabilities.
“But youths who are within 25 to 50 also have the advantage of a 50 percent discount for all positions, even the office of the President. We receive that nomination form you talk about at 50%. So, they’ll pay the expression of interest, plus 50 percent of the N70m.”