Obla Says APC’s Expensive Election Forms Undermine Internal Democracy

A chieftain of the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC), Chief Okoi Obono-Obla, has warned the leadership of the APC against charging aspirants huge nomination fees and then manipulating primaries in favour of preferred candidates, saying the practice undermines internal democracy.

He warned that the practice, if left unchecked, could be “suicidal for internal democracy” and deeply demoralising for aspirants who commit significant resources to party nominations.

In a statement made available in Calabar yesterday, the party chieftain insisted that political office should not be determined by “the pockets of party leaders.”

He stressed that aspirants should not be made to pay between ₦10 million and ₦50 million for nomination forms, only to be denied a fair contest.

A former Chairman of the Special Presidential Panel on Recovery of Public Property stated that the credibility of the party depends solely on fairness and transparency.

He stressed that the party must work to earn and retain the trust of its members through credible primaries.

“Fairness and transparency must guide the primaries,” he said, noting that justice in the process would strengthen the party and ensure the emergence of credible representatives of the people.

Recounting his personal experience during the 2023 election cycle, Obono-Obla alleged that he was compelled to sell a house he built in Calabar for ₦22 million in order to purchase a senatorial nomination form.

He said that despite the huge financial sacrifice, the process was allegedly manipulated in favour of preferred aspirants through the selection of delegates loyal to certain interests within the party leadership in Cross River State.

He further alleged that on the day of the primary election in Ikom, favoured aspirants distributed large sums of money, reportedly sourced from the state, to influence delegates’ decisions.

“Delegates received between ₦200,000 and ₦300,000 each,” he alleged, adding that many of those involved in the process are now dissatisfied with the quality of representation that followed.

Looking ahead to the 2027 general elections, Obono-Obla urged the APC to ensure fairness, equity, and internal democracy in its primaries.

He insisted that members must be allowed to freely choose candidates who truly represent their interests.