Nigeria’s ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) has fixed nomination fees running into tens of millions of naira for aspirants seeking to contest in its 2027 primary elections, drawing criticism that the move entrenches wealth as a barrier to political participation.
Under the new schedule released by the party, presidential hopefuls will pay ₦30m for an expression of interest form and ₦70m for the nomination form—bringing the total cost of entry to ₦100m.
The fees, detailed in a two-page timetable signed by the party’s national organising secretary, Sulaimon Arugungu, also outline charges for other elective positions as political parties begin preparations for the next general election cycle.
Governorship aspirants are to pay ₦10m for the expression of interest form and ₦40m for the nomination form, while those seeking senatorial tickets will pay ₦3m and ₦17m, respectively.
For the House of Representatives, aspirants are required to pay ₦1m for the expression of interest form and ₦9m for nomination, while state assembly hopefuls will pay ₦1m and ₦4m.
The document, which aligns with provisions of the constitution, the Electoral Act 2026 and the timetable of the Independent National Electoral Commission, also sets out a detailed schedule for the party’s primaries.
According to the timetable, notice of elections will be issued to state chapters on 20 April 2026, with the sale of forms running from 25 April to 2 May at the party’s national secretariat. Submission of completed forms is scheduled to close on 4 May.
Primary elections are set to follow in quick succession: state assembly primaries on 16 May, governorship on 18 May, House of Representatives on 20 May and Senate on 22 May. Appeals are slated for 24 May for state assembly contests and 25 May for other categories.
But the scale of the fees has reignited debate over the cost of politics in Nigeria, with critics arguing that such charges effectively exclude candidates without access to significant financial resources.
Political analyst Omenazu Jackson said the development underscored the need to rethink the country’s democratic framework.
“We should ask ourselves where ₦100m is coming from,” he said, warning that the system incentivises candidates to rely on wealthy backers, potentially distorting governance priorities once in office.
Another analyst, Prof Kamilu Fage, described the fee structure as fundamentally undemocratic, arguing that it favours the highest bidder at the expense of broader participation.
“It means that people without such money cannot even contest,” he said. “By implication, democracy is no longer by the people and for the people, but by the rich and for the rich.”
Critics also warned that high entry costs could perpetuate a cycle in which candidates who rely on loans or financial sponsors feel compelled to repay those debts once elected, further blurring the line between public service and private interests.
Jackson added that political parties should instead consider sponsoring candidates if they are committed to democratic ideals, rather than imposing prohibitive fees.
The APC has not publicly responded to the criticism, but the issue is likely to intensify scrutiny of party financing and internal democracy as the 2027 elections draw closer.
