Reported by: Ijeoma G | Edited by: Gabriel Osa
The All Progressives Congress (APC) in Ebonyi State has set the cost of its expression of interest and nomination form for aspirants seeking to contest local government chairmanship positions at ₦30 million, a figure that has drawn widespread attention and debate across the political landscape in the state. The party announced the fee as part of preparations for the forthcoming local government elections, underscoring its strategy for internal candidate selection ahead of the polls.
The decision was disclosed by Stanley Okoro‑Emegha, the APC State Chairman, during a briefing with journalists at the party’s secretariat in Abakaliki. Okoro‑Emegha said the fee structure was agreed upon during a closed‑door meeting that brought together the party’s 13 local government chairmen along with 171 ward chairmen and secretaries. He explained that the meeting was convened to align party executives on upcoming programmes and ensure a smooth flow of information across all levels of the party apparatus.
Under the new cost framework, aspirants for the local government chairmanship are required to pay ₦30 million for their nomination forms. Councillorship nomination forms, Emegha said, will be available for ₦250,000. The party also outlined that the sale of chairmanship forms is scheduled to run from January 9 to January 19, 2026, while councillorship and delegate forms will be circulated starting January 8.
Primary elections to select the party’s candidates for the local government chairmanship slots are set to take place on January 26, 2026, with councillorship and ward delegate primaries scheduled for January 24. Okoro‑Emegha also noted that these primaries will be conducted using the Option A4 voting system for councillorship and ward delegate positions, while chairmanship candidates will be chosen by elected delegates under established party procedures.
The announcement comes amid heightened political activity in Ebonyi State, where local government elections have been the subject of both legal and public scrutiny. In October 2025, a Federal High Court sitting in Abakaliki nullified the 2024 local government and councillorship elections, deeming them unconstitutional after finding that they did not comply with provisions of the Electoral Act. That ruling effectively invalidated the positions of the 13 council chairmen and 171 councillors elected in the flawed process, placing additional emphasis on the upcoming polls and internal party preparations.
Already, prominent figures within the APC have begun purchasing the costly chairmanship forms, signalling a competitive and potentially contentious race ahead. One high‑profile aspirant, Osborne Umahi, the son of the Minister of Works, Senator David Umahi, collected the ₦30 million nomination and expression of interest forms at the APC state secretariat in Abakaliki. His entry into the race drew significant attention, with large crowds of supporters accompanying him as he formalised his bid for the chairmanship of Ohaozara Local Government Area.
Community reactions to the ₦30 million fee have been mixed. Supporters argue that the high cost reflects the seriousness of the electoral contest and the resources required to carry out effective campaigns, while critics contend that such steep fees could limit political participation to wealthy elites and entrenched interests, undermining the inclusiveness of Nigeria’s democratic processes. Balloting and delegate systems often favour well‑connected aspirants, leading to concerns that financial barriers may further entrench political patronage rather than grassroots representation.
Political analysts say the environment in Ebonyi is evolving rapidly as the APC works to solidify its position in the state ahead of broader electoral battles across the country. The party’s leadership has emphasised that the organizational and financial prerequisites for candidate nomination aim to ensure that only credible contenders participate in the primaries, a rationale intended to uphold discipline and order within the party.
However, the scale of the nomination fee stands in contrast to earlier periods. In previous local politics cycles, such as in 2024, rival parties or earlier APC arrangements reportedly set lower fees for similar positions, though precise comparisons vary due to differing electoral contexts and party policies. The increase to ₦30 million underscores the evolving dynamics of political financing at the grassroots level, raising questions about accessibility and equity in candidate selection.
The APC has also announced plans for a comprehensive electronic membership registration and revalidation exercise that will span 30 days, aimed at expanding the party’s database and encouraging wider participation. Party executives have been urged to mobilise members and supporters to ensure broad engagement ahead of the primaries and subsequent local government elections later in the year.
As the political temperature rises in Ebonyi State, both within the APC and across other parties preparing for the upcoming council polls, attention is likely to remain sharply focused on how nomination fees and internal party arrangements shape the landscape of grassroots democracy. The outcomes of these internal contests will not only determine the APC’s candidates but will also influence broader political narratives as Nigeria edges closer to a pivotal election cycle in 2026.
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