Aspirant Who Can’t Afford LP Nomination Fees Lack Capability To Run For Edo Guber Election – Ogbaloi
By Simeon OSAJIE
The Edo State chapter of Labour Party, (LP), has said that any governorship aspirants who cannot afford the fee for Expression of Interest and Nomination Forms lacks the capability to run for gobernatorial election.
The State Chairman of the party, Comrade Kelly Ogbaloi stated this at a press conference in Benin City, ahead of the party’s governorship primary election slated for February 22, 2024.
While speaking on the N30 million fees for the purchase of Expression of Interest and Nomination Forms, charged by the party among other issues, Comrade Ogbaloi noted that the party’s fee is the lowest among the three major political parties contesting the election.
Recall that 18 governorship aspirants on the platform of the Labour PArty had last week protested against the N30 Million fees for the nomination forms.
The aspirants, however, appealed to the national leadership of the party to reduce the fees to between N1million and N5million, noting that the N5million for Expression of Interest and N25 million for the Nomination Forms does not align with the principles and public perception of the party.
He however explained that the cost of elections into political offices in Nigeria is quite expensive as witnessed from the recent general elections.
According to Ogbaloi, “Political party funding is a challenge. The sale of forms is a major source through which political parties are funded.
“Aside being qualified to contest election, aspirants must also be ready to show capability and capacity to fund campaigns and other election requirements.
“A lot of issues that may arise as a result of primaries and election itself which has to do with litigation arising from such activities as well as other logistics issues, make it imperative for the parties to charge a reasonable fee like ours.
“So that it can adequately discharge its responsibilities during and after the elections.
“Therefore, any aspirant who cannot afford the fee lacks the capacity to run for the governorship election.”
The Edo LP Chairman also disclosed that two aspirants have so far bought the party forms, a man and a woman, urging others to do same.
He however, appealed to the governorship aspirants of the party to make the necessary sacrifice by participating in the exercise, assuring that the party is determined to ensure a level playing field for all aspirants leading to the emergence of a credible candidate.
He also disclosed that the party has reduced the fee for women by 50 percent in order to ensure their participation in the governorship election.
Ogbaloi however, denied the allegation that the party received the sum of N500 million from the state government in order to feature a neophyte as her candidate for the election.
He noted that the guideline currently released by the leadership of the party in respect to governorship election in the state falls in line with the provision of the constitution and the Electoral Act.
