Taraba APC kicks against N1m fee for LG chairmanship race
The All Progressives Congress (APC) in Taraba State has threatened to take legal action against the Taraba State Independent Electoral Commission (TSIEC) over what it described as unconstitutional guidelines for the forthcoming local government elections. APC State Chairman, Barr. Ibrahim Tukur El-Sudi, told journalists in Jalingo on Tuesday that the party would drag the commission […]
The All Progressives Congress (APC) in Taraba State has threatened to take legal action against the Taraba State Independent Electoral Commission (TSIEC) over what it described as unconstitutional guidelines for the forthcoming local government elections.
APC State Chairman, Barr. Ibrahim Tukur El-Sudi, told journalists in Jalingo on Tuesday that the party would drag the commission to court if it failed to withdraw the controversial provisions.
He argued that the conditions imposed by TSIEC were contrary to Supreme Court pronouncements and the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria.
According to the guidelines released by TSIEC for the November 8 council polls, chairmanship aspirants are required to pay a non-refundable fee of N1 million, while vice-chairmanship aspirants are to pay N500,000. Female vice-chairmanship aspirants are expected to pay N250,000.
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The guidelines also stipulate that male councillorship aspirants must pay N150,000, while their female counterparts are to pay N75,000. Persons with disabilities, however, are exempted from paying any fees.
El-Sudi described the fees as a deliberate attempt to disenfranchise opposition parties and their candidates. He called on Governor Agbu Kefas to prevail on the electoral body to delete the provision, insisting that neither the Constitution nor the Supreme Court permits state electoral commissions to impose such conditions.