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2019: Why Buhari should have rejected APC’s N45m presidential nomination fee – Lai


A former National Commissioner for the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, Prof. Lai Olurode has faulted President Muhammadu Buhari for not rejecting the N45m fee the All Progressives Congress, APC, placed on the Presidential nomination form.

Olurode said Buhari should reject the fee because it automatically shut out other aspirants on the platform of the All Progressives Congress, APC, from contesting.

Speaking during the annual National conference of Muslim Students of Nigeria, MSSN, in Lagos on Sunday, the Professor of Sociology said other aspirants, especially the youth, who could not afford the nomination form, had been shut out by the decision of the All Progressives Congress, APC.

He said, “That is a wrong way of opening up the political system. The political space is still restricted, definitely, there is no youth that can go, not to talk of the money that you need to even do campaign.

“So before you know it, we are all in the hands of moneybags, and wherever money dictates, you cannot have development.

“It must be supported with strong ethics and with strong morals. Morals are being checkmated. So there is no opportunity for a young person to go into politics.

“I think the leadership of the country must respond more timeously and strongly to challenges confronting the youth in this country.”