4 Major Political Parties Face Legal Threat

The Citizens Platform for Political Inclusion (CPPI) has issued pre-action notices to four major political parties over what it described as excessive nomination and expression-of-interest fees charged to aspirants.

The group also submitted a petition to the National Assembly, calling for urgent amendments to the Electoral Act to regulate the nomination fees imposed by political parties.

According to CPPI, the legal and legislative steps are being carried out in collaboration with the Athena Centre for Policy and Leadership and the Embassara Foundation.

The pre-action notices were served on the All Progressives Congress (APC), African Democratic Congress (ADC), Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC) and the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP).

In a statement signed by former Minister of Aviation Osita Chidoka, Amagbe Denzil Kentebe and Iniruo Wills, the platform said the current nomination fee structure poses a serious challenge to Nigeria’s constitutional democracy.

The group argued that the system has encouraged the commercialisation of politics, where financial strength has become more important than competence, experience and commitment to public service in determining who can contest elections.

CPPI said the practice goes against constitutional provisions that guarantee equality, freedom of association and the right of citizens to participate in governance.

It also referred to provisions of the African Charter on Human and Peoples’ Rights, which protect equal participation in government.

According to the platform, a worker earning the national minimum wage would need well over 100 years of earnings to afford some presidential nomination forms.

The group warned that the high fees promote political sponsorship, godfatherism and excessive financial influence in public office.

It added that the practice weakens internal democracy within political parties and affects transparency, accountability and good governance.

CPPI called on political parties to immediately review and reduce their nomination fees.

It also asked the parties to introduce transparent and fair fee structures and publicly disclose the legal basis used in fixing the charges.

The platform further demanded compensation or refund arrangements for aspirants who may have been affected by what it described as excessive nomination fees.

CPPI warned that it would begin legal proceedings if the political parties failed to provide satisfactory responses within the specified period.

In its petition to the National Assembly, the group urged lawmakers to amend the Electoral Act by introducing legal limits on nomination fees charged by political parties.

It also requested that the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) be given the authority to regulate and approve political party nomination fees.

The platform proposed reduced nomination fees for women, young people and persons with disabilities, while also calling for mandatory public disclosure of all revenues generated from nomination fees.

CPPI also appealed for public hearings on the impact of nomination fees, saying wider consultation with stakeholders would promote greater political inclusion and strengthen internal democracy within political parties.