The AAC party stated on Friday that the Benue State Independent Electoral Commission (BSIEC) was instructed to demand N500,000 and N250,000 from Chairman and Councillorship candidates respectively, adding that the commission also require that the candidates pay another N115,000 and N90,000 respectively as handling charges.
The African Action Congress (AAC) has demanded for immediate withdrawal of charges imposed on the candidates for Benue State, Local Government Area elections on October 5.
The AAC party stated on Friday that the Benue State Independent Electoral Commission (BSIEC) was instructed to demand N500,000 and N250,000 from Chairman and Councillorship candidates respectively, adding that the commission also require that the candidates pay another N115,000 and N90,000 respectively as handling charges.
Rex I. Elanu, the AAC Party Chairman, in a statement called on the Benue State governor, Rev Fr. Hyacinth Alia, to immediately intervene, by ensuring that “those ridiculous charges are immediately revoked, in the spirit of fairness and democracy.”
He added that the unruly extortion plan was against the tenets of fairness and equity.
The statement reads in part; "It has become necessary to address and oppose the counter-democratic ploy of the ruling APC in Benue state, led by Governor Fr. Hyacinth Alia, towards the forthcoming Local Government Elections slated for October 5th, 2024.
"In the wake of recent agitations by Nigerians to end bad governance, and the supreme court’s ruling on LGA Autonomy, one would expect a governor who enjoyed huge support and votes from predominantly common class and rural people, to ensure the strengthening of democracy by supporting democratic institutions to be fair and accountable.
"Under his watch, the Benue State Independent Electoral Commission (BSIEC) which ordinarily enjoys State sponsorship, has now been empowered to demand N500,000 and N250,000 from Chairman and Councillorship candidates respectively. BSIEC even went further to require that the candidates pay another N115,000 and N90,000 respectively as handling charges.
"This unruly extortion plan is against the tenets of fairness and equity. And unlike the APC which placed their nomination forms for chairmanship aspirants at 5 million naira, the African Action Congress (AAC) which is known for giving out nomination forms to aspirants for free, and even excluding some categories of aspirants from paying certain administrative charges, cannot be silent about such ridiculous charges that were set up to discourage the participation of candidates who are not beneficiaries of state sponsorship or political money-bags.
"As AAC Party, we are obliged by our ideological position, to ensure that the outrageous cost of politicking in Nigeria does not deny prospective leaders the opportunity to express their political aspirations and potentials.
"Even as we continue to assume the independence of BSIEC, we specifically call upon the Benue state governor (Rev Fr. Hyacinth Alia) to immediately intervene, by ensuring that those ridiculous charges are immediately revoked, in the spirit of fairness and democracy.
"If the governor found it expedient to recently replace the BSIEC Chairman, we expect him to find it necessary to heed the call for a level playing field in fairness.
"Our ideological leaning as AAC party remains pro-masses and socialist driven, as our people deserve a democratic and responsibly governed Benue state."
Follow the Sahara Reporters channel on WhatsApp: https://whatsapp.com/channel/0029VaFClvtH5JM6SSsP7M2Y