The All Progressives Congress, APC, in Ebonyi State has ignited widespread controversy after saying that the nomination type for native authorities chairmanship positions will price aspirants a staggering N30 million.
The choice, revealed by the state occasion chairman, Chief Stanley Okoro Emegha, has sparked outrage amongst political observers, civil society teams and strange residents, who argue that the exorbitant payment successfully excludes grassroots politicians and strange Ebonyi indigenes from contesting, turning native elections into an unique affair for the rich or well-connected.
The announcement got here after a closed-door assembly with occasion officers from the state’s 13 native authorities areas and 171 wards.
In response to Emegha, the N30 million payment covers each the expression of curiosity and nomination varieties for chairmanship aspirants, whereas councillorship varieties are priced at N250,000.
Gross sales of varieties for delegates and councillors started on January 8, with chairmanship varieties out there from January 9 to January 19, forward of the deliberate native authorities elections in August 2026.
In response to knowledge from the Income Mobilisation Allocation and Fiscal Fee (RMAFC), even when an area authorities chairman avoids all private bills and saves each kobo of official wage and allowances, the overall earnings over a full four-year time period would nonetheless fall in need of N30 million.
This has led many to explain the payment as not simply prohibitive however a direct incentive for corruption, as profitable candidates might view their tenure primarily as a possibility to recoup their “funding.”
Public response has been swift and sharp. On social media platforms corresponding to X (previously Twitter), customers have condemned the transfer as “moneycracy” relatively than democracy.
The controversy intensified after Osbourne Umahi, the 27-year-old son of former Ebonyi State Governor and present Minister of Works, Senator David Umahi, bought the N30 million type to contest the Ohaozara Native Authorities Space chairmanship.
Supporters have praised him as a succesful younger politician dedicated to youth empowerment and infrastructure improvement, with the state APC chairman describing him as “clever” and able to turning across the space’s fortunes.
Nevertheless, critics see the transfer as emblematic of how the excessive payment favours political dynasties and people with entry to vital sources or influential godfathers, additional alienating common residents.
The Ebonyi APC has defended the pricing, with some officers suggesting it ensures that solely “dedicated” and financially viable candidates emerge.
But, the backlash highlights broader issues in Nigerian politics in regards to the commercialisation of elective places of work, the place nomination charges for even modest positions now rival or exceed these for larger nationwide roles in earlier election cycles.
As the shape gross sales window closes and primaries method, the controversy rages on: is that this a needed measure for occasion self-discipline, or a deliberate barrier that undermines democratic inclusion on the most native degree of governance?
For a lot of in Ebonyi, the N30 million price ticket sends a transparent message — native management is now not inside attain of the frequent man.
Whether or not this sparks reforms or deeper divisions stays to be seen, however the uproar reveals no indicators of fading quickly.
