The announcement of the All Progressives Congress (APC) Expression of Interest and Nomination Forms cost as well as the Indirect Primaries resolution by the National Executive Committee (NEC) of the party means a lot to Tinubu and his co-aspirants.
Before now, we thought that the APC would come up with a consensus candidate to bear its flag in the 2023 presidential election. The APC NEC emergency meeting held at the Transcorp Hilton Hotels at Abuja on Wednesday has, however, brought a twist to the game.
Care to know the cost of APC Expression of Interest and Nomination forms at all levels of political offices? The table below contains the cost of expression of interest and nomination forms for political offices one can contest in Nigeria under the aegis of the APC
| Office | Expression of Interest & Nomination Form | |
| President | N100M | |
| Governor | N50M | |
| Senate | N20M | |
| House of Rep | N10M | |
| State HOA | N2M |
Meanwhile, a fifty per cent discount was approved for under 40 aspirants while women and people living with disabilities are offered free tickets.
Given the outrageous price of the APC presidential ticket as well as others, It is important to ask very pertinent questions.
How incredulous is it for a party like APC whose mantra is anti-corruption to peg their tickets at such incredible prices?! Where, in all of these, is the place for the “not-too-young to rule bill” that Mr President by his own hand signed into law? Your answer is as good as mine.
Well, if the youths can contribute and buy the PDP’s 2023 Presidential ticket for Bukola Saraki at a whooping but lesser price of 40 million, why should I pity them? Anyways, a business mogul in Kebbi has signed a N100 million cheque to purchase Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s 2023 presidential form.
See Also: 2023: 3 Factors That May Work Against Tinubu’s Presidential Ambition
It is an easy road to victory, isn’t it? What about Tinubu’s co-aspirants? Where will they get N100 million? We are not even talking about the cost of the gubernatorial, Senate and House of Assembly tickets. Who will buy them?
What does Indirect Primary Election mean for APC Presidential Aspirants?
The APC “indirect primaries” means that a selected few (delegates) are given the power to select the flag bearer of the party come 2023. This means that the interest of the APC largesse is represented electorally through a delegation selected across the three tiers of government.
According to APC NEC, the presidential primary election to hold from May 30 to June 1 while the governorship primaries will hold on May 18, State House of Assembly, May 20; House of Representatives, May 22; and Senate, May 24.
Just before we dive deeper into the chatter, who are those vying for the post of president of Nigeria in 2023 under APC?
At least 15 people have declared their intentions to run for the office of the President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria under the aegis of the APC.
Below is the list of the APC presidential aspirants:
- Bola Ahmed Tinubu
- Yemi Osinbajo
- Rotimi Amaechi
- Yahaya Bello
- Chris Nigige
- Dave Umahi
- Rochas Okorocha
- Ken Nnamani
- Tunde Bakare
- Moses Ayom
- Ibinabo Joy Dokubo
- Orji Uzor Kalu
- Gbenga Olawepo-Hashim
- Tein Jack Rich
- Ibrahim Bello Dauda
Now, what does the APC NEC resolution to conduct indirect primaries instead of producing a consensus candidate mean for Tinubu, Osinbajo and other presidential aspirants in the APC?
Save the fact that indirect primaries will give the APC aspirants equal opportunity to contest the ticket of their party ahead of the 2023 general elections, several other factors may not favour all the aspirants as they are prime determinants of who becomes the flag bearer of the party.
Consultation is definitely one of the key factors that determine the result of an indirect primary election. As such, the political tours, conferences, programmes etc that the concerned politicians have engaged in in the past few weeks or months will play a significant role in the APC indirect primaries.
Without forgetting that “indirect primaries” implies loyalty, trust, compromise and or betrayal. It is one out of the many ways to know one’s true followers and the opposite characters. It reveals who is who and or what is what.
One thing is, entrusting the decision of the APC largesse into the hands of a selected few could be very risky as delegates could easily jettison the interest of the people they represent for a new one on the D-Day having received bribe(s) from any of the aspirants.
Not considering the money/bribery factor now, the human mind is very fragile and it could be easily thwarted after some persuasive efforts and pressures here or there.
Despite these, the APC’s resolve to conduct indirect primaries is the best alternative, given the disturbing confluence of irredeemable social vices their party through the present-day government has created.