Enugu APC kicks Against Outrageous fees for Aspirants

Posted by African Examiner Featured, Latest Headlines Thursday, September 12th, 2013

By Ignatius Okpara

Enugu Governor, Chime Sullivan

The Enugu state chapter of All Progressive Change APC is considering legal action against the Enugu state Independent Electoral Commission ENSIEC for imposing what it described as “outrageous levy” on chairmen and councillorship Aspirants in the forthcoming local government polls in the state.

Our correspondent reports that the state electoral body, under the headship of Dr. Boniface Eneh, had pegged the chairmanship fee for a non-refundable fee of N250,000 while, those contesting for councillorship positions are expected to dole out N50,000 for the council election slated for November 2^nd, 2013.

Speaking with newsmen Wednesday in Enugu at the end of a one day sensitazation meeting put together for members of APC in Enugu east senatorial district, leader of the party in the zone, and convener of the gathering, Dr. Ben Nwoye, declared that such levy was unconstitutional.

Dr. Nwoye, a former senatorial candidate of the defunct Action Congress of Nigeria ACN, in Enugu east, insisted that the levy was totally unacceptable to the opposition party, saying already “we are making some efforts through a legal team to challenge the imposition of the fee by ENSIEC”

The APC chieftain argued that since such levy was not part of the constitutional requirement for anybody to vie for the positions, the party would definitely challenge it,

“because as far as we are concerned, it is not proper, it is purely exploitation.”

ENSIEC he said, included the levy aspect “as economic requirement and not political requirement”, insisting that such action was too bad for any democracy.

Nwoye, a human Rights lawyer, however, disclosed that despite the ruling People’s Democratic Party (PDP) and ENSIEC antics ahead of the council election, APC would participate in the polls after sorting out the contentious levy issue legally.

He therefore, called on the electorates in the state to rise up and embrace the newly registered main opposition party in the country, saying APC, remains the most vibrant political platform any progressive or true democrat could realise his or her political ambition or dream.

The APC, chieftain, also boasted that the party has all it takes to wrestle power form the ruling PDP both at the national and state levels, including Enugu state, come 2015.” Because PDP has failed Nigerians in all ramifications” he added

He hinted that four Aspirants have already indicated their interest to run for chairmanship positions in Enugu east senatorial zone made up of six council areas, just as a total of 28 persons have equally expressed their readiness to vie for councillorship seats in the district, adding that” there are a total of 77 political wards in Enugu east”