The Social Democratic Party (SDP) has called on the Plateau State Independent Electoral Commission (PLASIEC) to reduce the cost of nomination forms for candidates wishing to participate in the October 9th, 2024 Local Government elections in Plateau State.
In a statement issued by the SDP Chairman in Plateau State, Hon. Abubakar Dogara, in Jos on Tuesday, July 23, 2024, the party emphasized that a reduction in these costs would enable political parties to sponsor their candidates more effectively.
Dogara noted that the current high charges could prevent parties from participating, thus undermining the democratic process at the grassroots level.
He highlighted the significant financial burden that the current fees impose on parties, with nomination forms costing N1,250,000 for chairmanship candidates and N600,000 for councilorship candidates. The party argued that such high fees are a substantial barrier to participation, especially for smaller parties like the SDP.
“Ahead of the October 9th, 2024 Local Government Elections in Plateau State, we wish to call the attention of PLASIEC not to impede the result-oriented impact they have so far initiated and demonstrated by engaging various stakeholders within Plateau State. One of the greatest challenges facing most political parties like the Social Democratic Party is funding. Hence fixing exorbitant fees to be paid by candidates of political parties who wish to participate is a disadvantage and a way of telling off opposition parties from the polls, hence reducing the credibility of the elections,” he said.
Dogara stressed that the high fees deny political parties and their candidates their constitutional rights to participate in elections.
“It is on this note that we wish to state categorically that the One Million Two Hundred and Fifty Thousand Naira (N1,250,000) fee pegged for the Chairmanship Candidates and Six Hundred Thousand Naira (N600,000) for Councilorship candidates pose a huge challenge to their participation, thereby denying political parties and their candidates their constitutional rights to participate in elections.” He said.
The party called on PLASIEC to reconsider and review the fees to a more reasonable rate to encourage broader participation in the upcoming elections.
“We believe that the current leadership of PLASIEC is serious-minded and listening, and as such will not tow the path of the previous leadership.
“We call on the leadership to reconsider its stance and review the fees in the interest of the growth and development of grassroots democracy.” He added.