The All Progressives Congress (APC) in Ebonyi State has come under intense public criticism after fixing the cost of its local government chairmanship nomination form at ₦30 million, a move many observers say undermines grassroots political participation.
The decision, announced by the state APC Chairman, Stanley Okoro Emegha, has sparked outrage among political analysts, civil society organisations, and residents, who argue that the high fee effectively excludes ordinary citizens and turns local elections into a contest reserved for the wealthy.
Emegha revealed the pricing following a closed-door meeting with party leaders from the state’s 13 local government areas and 171 wards.
According to him, the ₦30 million covers both the expression of interest and nomination forms for chairmanship aspirants, while forms for councillorship positions have been fixed at ₦250,000.
He further disclosed that the sale of forms for delegates and councillorship aspirants began on January 8, while chairmanship forms would be sold from January 9 to January 19, ahead of the scheduled August 2026 local government elections.
LG Earnings Fall Short of ₦30 Million Fee – RMAFC Figures
Critics have highlighted that the nomination fee far exceeds what a local government chairman is legally entitled to earn while in office.
Figures from the Revenue Mobilisation Allocation and Fiscal Commission (RMAFC) indicate that even if a council chairman were to save their entire salary and allowances over a four-year tenure, the total earnings would still not amount to ₦30 million.
This disparity has intensified concerns that the high cost of entry could indirectly promote corruption, as elected officials may feel pressured to recoup their financial “investment” through public office.
Public reaction has been swift, particularly on social media platform 𝕏 (formerly Twitter), where many users have described the situation as a shift from democracy to “moneycracy.”
Several commentators warned that if contesting a local government chairmanship now requires ₦30 million, it raises serious questions about political inclusion, accountability, and the future of grassroots governance.
The controversy escalated further after Osbourne Umahi, the 27-year-old son of former Ebonyi State Governor and current Minister of Works, Senator David Umahi, purchased the ₦30 million form to contest the Ohaozara Local Government Area chairmanship.
Supporters of the younger Umahi have praised him as a capable and forward-looking aspirant, with the state APC chairman describing him as intelligent and well-positioned to drive development at the local level. They argue that his ambition reflects growing youth involvement in politics.
However, critics counter that the development highlights how exorbitant nomination fees favour political families, wealthy aspirants, and candidates backed by powerful godfathers, further marginalising average Ebonyi residents.
They argue that many competent, community-oriented individuals are effectively priced out of the race, weakening democratic competition and representation at the local level.
Some party officials, speaking to Daily Post, defended the pricing, insisting it helps filter out unserious aspirants and ensures only committed candidates contest.
Nevertheless, the backlash reflects wider national anxiety over the increasing commercialisation of Nigerian politics, where nomination fees for local offices now rival—or even exceed—those for higher elective positions in past election cycles.
For many residents of Ebonyi State, the message appears unmistakable: access to local leadership is steadily moving beyond the reach of the ordinary citizen.
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