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Gombe State Not too Young to Run Movement have criticised the high cost of forms for expression of interest and nomination for the 2019 general elections being sold by political parties in the country.
The National leader of the movement, Hamzat Lawal stated this while speaking during a press conference in Gombe, said that the high costs of the forms would make youths and qualified politicians to shelve their ambitions.
He said the whole idea of paying exorbitant rate for nomination form smacks of a grand conspiracy to keep the system only for the moneybags and shut out those with less financial muscle.
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Hamzat also decried the manner at which some state governors hijacked the process of the sales of nomination forms to thwart the aspirations of young aspirants and perceived political enemies.
“The movement notes with concern the announcement on the cost of nomination forms by various parties which presents a major impediment to youth participation in politics.”
The National Working Committee of the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) proposed N55 million as the cost of the nomination and expression of interests form for presidential aspirants while PDP pegged its cost at N12 million.
For governorship and senatorial aspirants, APC proposed N22.5 million and N8.5 million respectively while PDP fixed its price at N6 million.
PDP announced that its reduced the cost of nomination forms for House of Representatives so as to increase the participation of youths in the contest.
“In line with the constitution of our party, the NWC, acting on behalf of NEC, reviewed downwards the cost of nomination forms for House of Representatives from N2,000,000 to N1,000,000.
“This is in keeping with its promise to enhance the inclusion of young persons in the democratic process. #NotTooYoungtoRun,”, a statement by the PDP’s National Organising secretary said.
APC, however, has noted that the current prices are only proposals and that can be subjected to review.
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