Success Nwankwo
The N30 million fee for nomination and expression of interest forms in the Edo State governorship race will not be waived, according to the Labour Party’s National Leadership.
Roundoffnews gathered that, the LP National Publicity Secretary Obiora Ifoh advised all candidates to seek ways to raise money.
The LP Publicity Secretary described the Edo State gubernatorial election as a serious business and questioned how any candidate who was unable to raise N30 million for forms would be able to obtain funding “to contest for the main election which will cost hundreds of millions”.
Ifoh’s statement was in response to a request made by Egbe Omorodion, one of the Labour Party’s candidates for governor of Edo State, on behalf of three other candidates, asking the party to reconsider the N30 million form cost.
There would be a meeting on Monday (today) to align their opinion and inform the party, Omorodion stated, adding that other candidates shared his sentiments but had not been in touch with him.
In recent times, the state party dated controversy when several candidates and party members reported that moneybags had taken over the organisation.
Kelly Ogbaloi, the party’s chairman, refuted the assertion and stated that the organisation will guarantee fair competition for each candidate.
Thirty-four candidates have already declared their intention to run for the party’s ticket in the February primaries.
According to Omoridion, they were pleading with the party leadership to ensure that those with good intentions were not shut out of the process because of the cost of the form, rather than pressuring the party to lower the form’s price.
He bemoaned the possibility that it would mute their supporters who wished to be heard through the voting process and said he was finding it difficult to reconcile his conscience with the cost of the form.
“I can assure you that four of us are requesting that the party lower the cost of the forms,” he stated. On Monday, we will be holding a meeting to reconcile our stance and express our emotions to the party leadership.
“We believe that the form’s cost represents the commercialization of politics, which is contrary to our wishes for the political system. For the Imo State election, forms were sold for N15 million each. Why is Edo’s situation different?
UK LP Chairman Omorodion warns against using form sales for fundraising, citing potential anger over high costs. He acknowledges the party’s momentum hasn’t waned since Peter Obi’s presidential defeat.
However, Ifoh, the LP’s national publicity secretary, responded by stating that the Edo State governorship is a “serious business” for the organisation.
“My first reaction to this is that the Labour Party is still charging the lowest of the three major political parties in Nigeria,” he said. Additionally, our chances of winning the Edo State gubernatorial race are greater and stronger.
The party is running for governor of Edo State, seeking outstanding candidates to fill positions. And therefore urge candidates to be understanding and patient, as they find a mean of raising the N30 million for the nomination form.