Group Joins Court Fight Over INEC Nomination Fees

Group Joins Court Fight Over INEC Nomination Fees

A civic group has thrown its weight behind a lawsuit challenging the high nomination fees charged by political parties for elective offices in Nigeria.

The Coalition Against Corruption and Bad Governance said it would join the case filed at the Federal High Court in Abuja against INEC and 19 political parties. The matter is before Justice Binta Nyako.

The coalition described the fees as unfair and harmful to democracy, arguing that they shut out capable Nigerians who lack deep pockets.

It pointed to cases where the APC fixed its presidential form at N100 million, while some states set local government chairmanship forms as high as N30 million.

According to the group, such costs push candidates to recover expenses through corrupt means once elected.

It warned that aspirants who borrow money or depend on political sponsors may feel pressured to repay debts through public funds.

The coalition also questioned why parties that claim to fight corruption rely heavily on income from form sales.

The suit is asking the court to declare the fees unconstitutional and to direct INEC to stop political parties from charging them.

The group plans to mobilise civil society organisations ahead of the next court date in March, as it calls for an end to what it calls the commercialisation of Nigeria’s democracy.