According to a source, the Kogi government is demanding over N100 million from the opposition party.
Governor Yahaya Bello’s administration in Kogi State has asked the opposition Peoples Democratic Party to come for tax clearance certificate verification or risk prosecution.
The government disclosed this in a letter signed by the Acting Chairman of the Kogi State Internal Revenue Service, Sule Salihu Enehe, dated October 26 and addressed to the PDP chairman in the state.
Bello is a member of the All Progressives Congress.
“Pursuant to Section 85(4)(S) of the Personal Income Tax Act (PITA) 2011 as amended, we write to apprise you of the relevance of tax clearance certificate (TCC) in our electoral processes in Nigeria. Note that presenting fake tax clearance certificate as a requirement in electoral process is a criminal offence in our electoral laws and offenders run the risk of prosecution, imprisonment and loss of electoral office (sub-section 9),” part of the letter read.
According to a source, the Kogi government is demanding over N100 million from the opposition party.
“After demanding N37 million, Kogi state is asking PDP to come for tax clearance to be done from 2011. They said it might be up to the tune of N100 million,” the source told SaharaReporters on Tuesday.
The letter was sent to the PDP exactly two days after the Bello-led government asked the party to pay N37.5 million before its candidates could be allowed to paste posters or distribute flyers.
The government in a letter dated October 24 and addressed to the PDP chairman in the state demanded the payment of the fund within 14 days.
It said that the presidential candidate of the party is to pay N10 million, its senatorial candidates are to pay N2 million each, and its House of Representatives candidates are to pay N1 million each.
Similarly, those wishing to contest for the state House of Assembly are to pay N500,000.
The Kogi government has launched a clampdown on members of opposition parties in Kogi State.
The governor in a video published recently vowed that he would ensure his party wins all the elections in the state by whatever means.
He also threatened to attack political opponents in the state, vowing that anyone that goes against him will be sent to his mother’s grave.
In another video, the governor said he would make use of firepower to silence opponents in the state who contest the elections, noting that he would ensure the APC wins in every position.
In another move to strangle the opposition political parties in the state, the government recently shut down the central office of the PDP in the state.
According to a notification letter personally signed by the Chairman, Okene Local Government Council, Hon. Abdulrazak M. Yusuf, the opposition party was asked to vacate the office.
Yusuf cited security as the reason for shutting it down.
Dated October 26, 2022, and with Ref No: OKLG/S/OFF/28011/321, the letter addressed to the PDP chairman in Okene was titled, "Peace and Security Committee Resolution and Ultimatum to P.D.P. to vacate your proposed party secretariat in Okene."
The letter was copied to HRM Alh. Dr. Ado Ibrahim CON, Ohinoyi of Ebiraland; Area Commander, Nigeria Police, Okene; DPO Okene Division; O/C SSS Okene; Commander, FOB, Okene; D.O. NSCDC Okene and O/c SIB Okene.
In the letter, Yusuf stated, "As part of measure to rejig our security architecture, you are by this notice given one (1) week to vacate your proposed party (PDP) secretarial in Okene.
"The decision was informed by what the security committee considered as the proximity of your proposed party secretariat as a threat to some critical infrastructures like; the Ebira Central Mosque and the Council Secretariat which when the political activities heat up it will distort the peaceful activities in this vicinity.
"Let me state emphatically that, the council is not taking this decision as a play to dabble into your party affairs and our action must not be misconstrued as such. Thank you."