By Adeleye Kunle
The All Progressive Grand Alliance (APGA) in Ebonyi has announced that it will boycott the state’s upcoming local government elections unless nomination fees are reduced, Track News reports.
If they were to participate, the party also asked the State Independent Electoral Commission (EBSIEC) to move the election date.
Mr Ricky Okorouka, the party’s State Chairman, stated this in Abakaliki after the party’s State Executive Meetings (SEC) on Sunday.
EBSIEC set a nomination fee of N1 million for Chairmanship and N200,000 for Councillor positions.
The Commission also set July 30 as the date for the state’s local government elections.
Okorouka stated that his party has decided not to participate in the election unless the fees are reduced.
“So, if EBSIEC wants us to participate in the elections, it should extend the deadline and remove the nomination fee that has been imposed thus far, and that is our position.”
“Exorbitant fees should not be used to disenfranchise political parties in Ebonyi LGA polls.”
“We held Executive Meetings in which we included all of the candidates for the 2023 general elections and deliberated on the state’s upcoming local government elections.”
“Our party, APGA, has decided that we may not participate in the election unless EBSIEC reduces the N1 million nomination form fee for chairman’s positions and N200,000 for councillor’s positions.”
“We also want the election date to be moved,” he added.
While reacting, Mr Jossy Eze, Chairman of EBSIEC, stated that the decision on nomination fees and election date was made and decided by all political parties in the state, including the APGA.
Eze stated that any complaints about the council elections should be directed to the Commission rather than making comments to divert attention away from the process. (NAN)
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