Why do the youths lament?
2023 General elections are just around the corner in the most popular country in Africa, Nigeria.
Currently being governed by President Muhammadu Buhari, a couple of things have been a major concern in the past 7 years of the Buhari led administration from economic crisis to the insecurity in the Northern part of the country and the search for a capable leader to bring up the country to its former glory has begun.
The Nigerian political space is majorly dominated by members of two political parties; The All Progressives Congress (the ruling party), APC and The People's Democratic party, PDP.
Several aspirants have began to indicate interest in the general elections as the primaries would occur in various parties from May, 2022.
Here lies the major issue according to the youths.
Below is a list of the cost of some nomination forms for the major political parties:
APC NOMINATION FORMS
Presidential - N100 million
Governorship - N50 million
Senate - N20 million
House of Reps - N10 Million
House of Assembly - N2 million
PDP NOMINATION FORMS
Presidential - N40 million
Governorship - N21 million
Senate - N3.5 million
House of Reps - N2.5 million
House of Assembly - N600,000
The cost of these forms caused quite a stir among the youths and made them come up with the question,
"Are the youths being segregated?"
"A lot of youths who might want to contest do not have that much resources to put forth that kind of money.
Does that mean only highly established older Nigerians are already being targeted for these roles in the nation's government?"
Meanwhile forms were made free for those with disabilities and women. Also, a 50% discount was given for youths between the ages of 25-40 who would like to purchase nomination forms.
The opposition party,PDP, however requested a probe of members of the opposition party who would purchase the nomination forms that amounts to a hundred million naira, more than double the 2018 nomination cost which was about 45 million naira as it was too far fetched.
Others said the ruling party would be encouraging looting and corruption with the cost of their nomination forms.
A chieftain of the ruling party, APC Joe Igbokwe, however denied all allegations of sabotaging the youths.
In his words,
"That 100 million is not too much if you are serious. Those who believe in the candidate would bring the money to support the candidate."
He also reiterated that a bulk of the money was to be used for the development of the party and welfare of party members.
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