Exorbitant Nomination Fees By Political Parties Caused Our Exclusion

Many persons with disabilities in Nigeria have blamed their exclusion from political offices on the exorbitant fees charged by political parties, Daily Post reports.

The PWDs shared this view on Friday during a Twitter space for PWDs candidates that participated in the 2023 general elections.

The Twitter space was organised by Inclusive Friends Association(IFA), and titled: 2023 elections and PWD candidate experience sharing: exploring myth, challenges and solutions— had candidates that spoke on their experiences.

Speaking on his experience, Yakubu Abdulhakeem, YPP candidate for Okene II House of Assembly, said the political terrain in Nigeria is highly monetized.

“In Nigeria, candidates are judged based on physical status and economic strength. With the cost of form, it is like they are excluding us from the system,” Abdulkareem said.

According to IFA, 35 contested elections for different positions, however, none won.

Jide Ojo, an election expert, said the concession offered by PDP and APC failed to address the exclusion PWDs.

He noted that several persons with disabilities could still not afford the reduction.

It would be recalled that APC charged N100 million for nomination and experience of interest forms but asked persons with disabilities to only pay N30 million for expression of interest forms.

“The flip side of not paying (full cost of the form) is that they are also used to blackmail the PWDs. so when you win primaries they tell you to step down for a more able person who is more financially resourceful.

“So when they give you with the right hand they take it with the left. And then, when you look at it, the expression of interest alone that was paid, look at the APC, the expression of interest form was N30 Million and the nomination form was N70 million,” he said