The All Progressives Congress (APC) in Ebonyi State has stirred widespread controversy after fixing the cost of its local government chairmanship nomination form at a staggering ₦30 million.
Naijaonpoint reports that the decision, announced by the state APC Chairman, Stanley Okoro Emegha, has drawn sharp criticism from political analysts, civil society groups and ordinary citizens, many of whom argue that the move shuts out grassroots politicians and effectively turns local elections into an exclusive preserve of the wealthy.
Emegha disclosed the pricing after a closed-door meeting with party officials from the state’s 13 local government areas and 171 wards.
According to him, the ₦30 million fee covers both the expression of interest and nomination forms for chairmanship aspirants, while councillorship forms have been pegged at ₦250,000.
He added that the sale of forms for delegates and councillors commenced on January 8, while chairmanship forms would be available between January 9 and January 19, ahead of the planned August 2026 local government elections.
LG Salary Can’t Match ₦30 million form fee – RMAFC data
Critics have pointed out that the cost of the form far exceeds what a local government chairman legally earns in office.
Data from the Revenue Mobilisation Allocation and Fiscal Commission (RMAFC) show that even if a chairman saves every kobo of salary and allowances for a full four-year term, total earnings would still fall short of ₦30 million.
Naijaonpoint reports that this reality has fueled concerns that the pricing may indirectly encourage corruption, as successful candidates could see public office as an avenue to recover their “investment.”
Public reaction has been swift and intense, particularly on social media platform 𝕏 (formerly Twitter), where many users have described the development as “moneycracy” rather than democracy.
Some commentators argued that if contesting a local council chairmanship now costs ₦30m, it raises troubling questions about the future of political inclusion and accountability at the grassroots level.
The controversy deepened after Osbourne Umahi, the 27-year-old son of former Ebonyi State Governor and current Minister of Works, Senator David Umahi, purchased the ₦30 million form to contest the Ohaozara Local Government Area chairmanship.
Supporters have hailed the younger Umahi as a promising and capable politician, with the state APC chairman describing him as “intelligent” and capable of transforming the local government.
They argue that his interest reflects youth participation and a commitment to development.
However, critics say the development perfectly illustrates how the high nomination fee favours political dynasties, wealthy aspirants and those backed by powerful godfathers, further alienating average Ebonyi indigenes.
They argue that many competent and community-rooted individuals are effectively priced out of the race, weakening democratic competition at the local level.
Some party officials, according to Daily Post, insist that the pricing ensures that only “serious and committed” candidates emerge.
Yet, the backlash reflects a broader national concern about the commercialisation of politics, where nomination fees for local offices now rival or even exceed those for higher national positions in previous election cycles.
For many Ebonyi residents, the message appears clear: local leadership is drifting beyond the reach of the common man.