Imo governorship election: Labour Party under fire over N25m nomination form

Ahead of the Imo State governorship election scheduled for November 11, the Labour Party, LP, is under fire for fixing the price of its expression of interest and nomination forms at N25 million.

Track news reports that 12 aspirants, excluding the late Humprey Anumudu, have picked Labour Party’s forms to contest the Imo State off-cycle governorship election.

Nigerians, including the Labour Party, had frowned at the All Progressives Party, APC, and the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, for the sale of their nomination forms for N40 million and N20 million respectively.

In March, Labour Party’s publicity secretary, Abayomi Ararambi, condemned APC and PDP for using the exorbitant cost of nomination to exclude the youths. The situation on ground now, however, contradicts the party’s earlier stance.

The development is attracting wild condemnations on social media on Sunday with many Nigerian sharing their displeasure as follows:

FS Emeka Yusuf: “Pegging the gubernatorial nomination and expression of interest form at N25M is outrageous. @NgLabour shouldn’t make defending them hard for us. We want a party that should make a difference and not align with the status quo. Equal opportunity should be the mantra.”

@Abel Joshua Chinaza: “NGN 500,000 or even NGN 1,000, 000 is better. It will make the race more competitive. Exorbitant prices for ordinary expressions of interest have already excluded a set of willing young minds who are not moneybags but want to come on board to serve the people.”

Official Chuks: Picking an interest form shouldn’t be based on who can afford the form but on the candidate’s capability if in-house scrutiny has been properly done. That should be the best way to go.”

Dr Ekpos Chinwe Weritimi: “Can someone please remind me of the core values espoused by LP? I know Obi-Datti’s competence, capacity, credibility and character. And that was what resonated with those who became Obidients. Is LP an old wine sack struggling to contain the new wine called Obidients?”

@Igbudu: “I don’t know why people can’t simply reason. Did it not occur to them that they are riding on the goodwill of many young Nigerians? Ordinarily, one would expect that they would employ other criteria like past antecedents etc., to bait for a good and acceptable candidate.”

@Kanu Levi: “I don’t know if there are conditions for raising such money because I don’t see a reason for someone who wants to serve the public to pay N25 million just to purchase a form; how much is his salary in 4yrs?? @NgLabour should be very careful cos @PeterObi might be d last.”

Meanwhile, when Track news reached out to the National Chairman of the Labour Party, Mr Julius Abure, for comments, he said, “I am in a meeting, I can’t speak on the matter.”

The incumbent governor of Imo State, Hope Uzodinma of the APC, is eligible for re-election in the state. Parties jostling for the governorship seat are expected to conduct their primaries between March 27 and April 17 2023.

Kogi and Bayelsa states will join Imo to conduct their governorship polls on November 11, 2023.