Critics warn the hefty price tag shuts out grassroots politicians, fuels corruption fears, and turns local democracy into an elite contest

The All Progressives Congress (APC) in Ebonyi State has come under intense public criticism following its decision to peg the cost of nomination forms for local government chairmanship aspirants at a staggering N30 million, a move many observers describe as anti-people and deeply exclusionary.

The decision was announced by the state APC Chairman, Chief Stanley Okoro Emegha, after a closed-door meeting involving party leaders from Ebonyi’s 13 local government areas and 171 wards. According to him, the N30 million fee covers both the expression of interest and nomination forms for chairmanship aspirants, while councillorship forms have been fixed at N250,000.

Sales of delegate and councillorship forms reportedly began on January 8, while chairmanship forms went on sale from January 9 and are scheduled to close on January 19. The development comes ahead of the local government elections slated for August 2026, with APC primaries expected to take place later in January.

However, the pricing has triggered widespread outrage among political analysts, civil society groups, and ordinary citizens, who argue that the fee effectively excludes grassroots politicians and average Ebonyi indigenes from participating in local governance. Many say the policy transforms what should be community-based contests into an exclusive club reserved for the wealthy or the politically connected.

The backlash has been further fueled by comparisons with official remuneration. Data from the Revenue Mobilisation Allocation and Fiscal Commission (RMAFC) indicate that even if a local government chairman saved 100 percent of their salary and allowances over a four-year tenure without spending a kobo, total earnings would still not reach N30 million. Critics argue this disparity creates perverse incentives, encouraging officeholders to see public office as an investment to be recouped rather than a platform for service.

On social media, the condemnation has been fierce, with many users deriding the system as “moneycracy” rather than democracy and accusing political parties of selling public offices to the highest bidders.

The controversy deepened when Osbourne Umahi, the 27-year-old son of former Ebonyi State Governor and current Minister of Works, Senator David Umahi, reportedly purchased the N30 million form to contest the chairmanship of Ohaozara Local Government Area. While supporters have praised him as a young, intelligent aspirant with a vision for youth empowerment and infrastructure development—views echoed by the state APC chairman—critics see his emergence as symbolic of how high entry barriers favor political dynasties and individuals with powerful backing.

Despite the uproar, party officials have defended the fee structure, arguing that it helps screen out unserious aspirants and ensures that only financially committed candidates seek office.

The development has reignited broader debates across Nigeria about the growing commercialization of politics, as nomination fees for local government positions now rival—or even exceed—what was once charged for state and national offices.

As the deadline for form sales approaches and party primaries draw closer, the central question remains unresolved: is the policy a tool for enforcing discipline and seriousness within the party, or a deliberate strategy that undermines inclusive, grassroots democracy?

For many residents of Ebonyi State, the message appears clear and troubling—local leadership is becoming an increasingly expensive privilege, far removed from the reach of ordinary citizens.

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