A former Chairman of the Special Presidential Panel on Recovery of Public Property, Okoi Obono-Obla, has warned the All Progressives Congress (APC) against compelling aspirants to pay huge sums for nomination forms only to manipulate the process in favour of preferred candidates.
Obono-Obla gave the warning in a statement issued in Calabar, cautioning that such practices could undermine internal democracy within the party and discourage credible aspirants.
The former presidential aide criticised the rising cost of party nomination forms, stating that aspirants should not be required to pay between ₦10m and ₦50m only to be denied a fair contest.
According to him, political office should not be determined by the financial influence of party leaders.
“Aspirants should not be made to pay between ₦10 million, ₦20 million and ₦50 million for forms, only to be denied a fair contest,” he said.
Obono-Obla stressed that the credibility of the ruling party depends on fairness and transparency in the conduct of its primaries.
“Fairness and transparency must guide the primaries,” he said, noting that credible internal processes would strengthen the party and produce better representatives for the electorate.
He added that justice in the nomination process would help the party retain the trust and confidence of its members.
The former aide also recalled his experience during the 2023 election cycle, alleging that he had to sell a house he built in Calabar for ₦22m to purchase a senatorial nomination form.
He claimed that despite the financial sacrifice, the process was manipulated through the selection of delegates loyal to certain interests within the party leadership in Cross River State.
Obono-Obla further alleged that large sums of money were distributed to delegates during the primary election in Ikom.
“Delegates received between ₦200,000 and ₦300,000 each,” he said, claiming that the funds were allegedly sourced from the state.
According to him, many party members are now dissatisfied with the quality of representation that emerged from the process.
He urged the APC to ensure fairness, equity and transparency as it prepares for its primaries ahead of the 2027 general elections.
The former presidential aide added that party members should be allowed to freely choose candidates who genuinely represent their interests.