APC Aso Rock aspirants edgy about coughing out a huge sum they may lose
By Jeph Ajobaju, Chief Copy Editor
Out of the crowded field of 20 presidential aspirants in the All Progressives Congress (APC) – some good, some bad, some grandstanders and filibusters who know they cannot get the ticket – only six have bought the N100 million form so far.
If all the 20 aspirants pay in full for the form, that would net the party N2 billion.
Vice President Yemi Osinbajo has not bought the form, a week after the sale opened, and five days to the closing date. But he is just playing strategy; he will certainly buy the form, because he knows he is in the best position to be President.
Factors restraining the rest include
- The cost of the form is a huge amount of money
- They may lose the nomination and lose the money
- Political appointees still in post may be barred by the courts from contesting, per Section 84(12) of the Electoral Act 2022.
- A political appointee who resigns may not get the ticket. A double whammy.
- Only someone from the South West is likely to get the ticket
The primaries are slated for 30 and 31 May in Abuja.
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Moneybags and sitting Governors
One moneybag, a former Governor, has bought the expression of interest form, which costs N30 million, and the nomination form of N70 million; totalling N100 million. Also have two sitting and two other former Governors. Plus two dark horses.
Up to 63 APC Governors seeking a second term and Governor wannabes have bought the N50 million nomination form, per reporting by The Nation.
Those who have collected the presidential forms are
- Bola Tinubu (former Lagos Governor)
- Yahaya Bello (Kogi Governor
- Dave Umahi (Ebony Governor)
- Rochas Okorocha (former Imo Governor now Senator)
- Chukwuemeka Nwajiuba (Education Minister of State)
- Uju Kennedy (paid N30 million, being a woman)
APC rules state that
- The nomination form is free for females and for Persons with Disability (PWD) aspirants. They only pay for the expression of interest form.
- Youths (25-40 years) get a 50 per cent discount on both the expression of interest and nomination forms.
The cost of the full bouquet of forms is as follows:
- Presidential – N100 million
- Governorship – N50 million
- Senate – N20 million
- House of Representatives – N10 million
- State House of Assembly – N2 million
The APC began the sale of nomination forms for presidential, governorship, and federal lawmaker posts on 26 April. The sale ends on 6 May.
Apart from APC members who have bought the form, others who have declared their run for President include
- Yemi Osinbajo (Vice President)
- Rotimi Amaechi (former Rivers Governor now Transportation Minister)
- Christ Ngige (former Anambra Governor now Labour and Productivity Minister)
- Ibikunle Amosun (former Ogun Governor now Senator)
- Orji Kalu (former Abia Governor now Senator)
- Ken Nnamani (former Senate President)
- Ibrahim Daudu
- Jack Tein
Closet aspirants
Others reportedly interested in the job but have not declared for it publicly include
- Kayode Fayemi (Ekiti Governor)
- Adams Oshiomole (former Edo Governor)
- Ogbonaya Onu (Science and Technology Minister)
- Timipre Sylva (Petroleum Minister of State)
- Osifo Stanley
- Adamu Garba
Eight Governors seeking a second term who have bought the nomination form are
- Babajide Sanwo-Olu (Lagos)
- Dapo Abiodun (Ogun)
- Mai Buni (Yobe)
- Bello Matawalle (Zamfara)
- Abdullahi Sule (Nasarawa)
- AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq (Kawara)
- Muhammad Yahaya (Gombe)
- Babagana Zulum (Borno)
One of the APC Governors whose second term will end in 2023 and who are positioning their deputies to replace them is Abubakar Sani (Niger) whose Deputy is Mohammad Ketso.
APC National Organising Secretary Sulaiman Argungu confirmed the figures and expressed satisfaction with the exercise so far.
He gave an assurance that the APC National Working Committee (NWC) led by Abdullahi Adamu will provide a level playing field for all aspirants.