From Okwe Obi, Abuja
A former President of the Senate, Ken Nnamani, has joined the 2023 presidential election on the platform of the All Progressives Congress (APC).
Addressing newsmen yesterday in Abuja, Nnamani, noted that he would begin to consult APC delegates across the country.
He stated that if elected, he would entrench good leadership, governance and take Nigeria to an enviable height.
“The idea of the brief is to further expatiate on my intention to contest for the APC 2023 Presidential Primary.
“A few days ago, I expressed the intention to join the contest for the primary. Now, I give firm declaration that I will purchase the nomination forms in a couple of days,” he said.
The APC chieftain frown at the high cost of the party’s Nomination Forms, adding that party faithful should work together in order to reduce the amount.
“Many of you may want to seek my views concerning the high cost of expression of interest and nomination fees of our major political parties.
“My view is that we should work towards reducing the cost of nomination for political offices so that we can create an inclusive environment for our dynamic youths and women who may not have access to much wealth but have great intellect and public spirit to enter into public service through political recruitment.
“I hold the view that high costs of election are not aligned to our socioeconomic realities in terms of comparative per capita income and purchasing power of Nigerians.
“But ultimately, the pressure for drastic reduction in nomination fees for public offices will come when citizens and citizen groups begin to play more active role in demanding and presenting credible and capable persons for elective offices rather than allow money bags force themselves into such offices.
“I believe that the nomination fees that parties ask aspirants to pay for elective offices in Nigeria need rethinking in order to improve the inclusion of youths, women and most Nigerians who earn salaries in an economy that has become distressed, largely on account of global economic meltdown and domestic insecurity and low productivity,” he said.
He called on the Independent Electoral Commission (INEC), to lay down “guidelines to the parties on both the costs of nominations and campaign expenses.
“I will back such regulatory control that will improve the fiscal responsibility and inclusive politics in Nigeria.
“In spite of the high nomination costs, I am delighted that many persons have declared their intention to contest for the Office of the President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria in my party, the All Progressive Congress (APC).
“I consider this a good development as it shows that our democracy is growing to the point of significant inclusivity and democratic freedom.
“The bedrock of democracy is that right of citizens to aspire to political offices and offer themselves to other citizens to evaluate and elect them to make decision for the rest of the society.
“The responsibility to choose the best amongst the qualified for the office rest on the citizens. In the case of party primary, that responsibility rests on the party delegates chosen according to law for that purpose.”