No more purchase of presidential nomination forms for Tinubu, APC bars groups
No more purchase of presidential nomination forms for Tinubu, APC bars groups
…As Kogi youths present N100m teller payment to party’s leadership
The National Working Committee (NWC) of the All Progressives Congress (APC) has ordered groups and or individuals planning to purchase expression of interest and nomination forms for President Bola Tinubu’s 2027 re-election bid not to bother any longer.
Chairman of the ruling party, Nentawe Goshwe Yilwatda, gave the directive when Kogi State youths, led by Governor Usman Ododo, presented a N100 million teller for the purchase of the presidential nomination forms to the party’s national leadership in Abuja on Monday.
Nentawe said that though another youth group has presented a N200 million dummy for the purchase of the same nomination forms, they are yet to fulfill their promises.
While foreclosing the possibilities of raising the price of nomination forms for next year’s general elections, he emphasised that there is no need for any other group or individual disturbing themselves planning to pay additional amount for the purchase of re-election forms for President Tinubu.
“We saw many young people appointed as CEOs in different capacities. That is why these youths have donated the sum of N100 million to Mr. President for the purchase of his expression of interest nomination forms. To me, this is something all Nigerians, especially the youths and party members should be proud of.
“We are proud of the Kogi youths. This is the first time in Nigeria’s history that youths are not saying, take us to Mr. President so he can give us something, but instead saying, we don’t want to see him; we want to buy the form for him.” “That is unique. You are a torchlight. You are a pillar. You are an example to all the youths of Nigeria, and we are proud of you. The governor is here with them. They have presented both the dummy cheque and the actual payment. This is not a promise. This is not a voice note. This is not AI. This is real money. The cash has been paid into the party’s account.
“This is the second group to make such a commitment. The first group made a commitment but has not paid. These people came with both commitment and payment. With this payment, I want to announce that nobody should bother bringing money again to buy the form for Mr. President because the form has already been procured in advance by the Kogi youths,” he said.
Foreclosing any review in the amount for nomination forms during next year’s presidential poll, Nentawe said: “If you check the congresses we just concluded, we reduced the cost of forms by almost 50 percent compared to 2022. In some cases, especially for the lower cadre, we reduced it by even more than half.
“We want this party to be accessible. Money is not our priority. Our priority is inclusiveness, so that even the poorest of the poor can access our forms and contest. That is the only way young people and women can participate more actively. If you have leadership quality, money should not be a barrier,” he said.
While justifying the purchase of the nomination forms, Governor Ododo, said: “In the history of this country, no government has given youths space the way Mr. President has done. I am a beneficiary of that.”
Kogi youth leader, Mr. Mundi, also promised to make up the amount if the party jerk up the price of nomination forms, noting: “I want to assure you that we already have more than N100 million reserved in case there is any increase above the amount already donated.”
