A former media aide to the late President Muhammadu Buhari, Bashir Ahmad, has publicly condemned the All Progressives Congress (APC) for setting the price of its local government chairmanship nomination form in Ebonyi State at a staggering N30 million. Ahmad described the fee as excessive and detrimental to democratic participation at the grassroots level.
Ex-Presidential Aide Decries High Cost as Anti-People
In a social media post made on Saturday, January 17, 2026, Ahmad argued that the prohibitive cost is neither encouraging nor progressive for the political landscape. He expressed deep concern that such a financial barrier would effectively shut out capable politicians from the grassroots who lack access to such enormous funds.
"Charging N30 million for a chairmanship nomination form is neither encouraging nor progressive," Ahmad stated. He warned that this decision creates an environment that encourages corruption among those who eventually get elected, as they may seek to recoup their heavy investment rather than focus on service delivery. The former aide called on the APC's national headquarters to intervene swiftly and prevent the party from setting what he termed a "dangerous precedent."
Nigerians React with Anger and Cynicism
Ahmad's criticism resonated with many Nigerians online, who echoed his sentiments and added their own sharp rebukes of the ruling party's decision. The public reaction highlighted a widespread perception that the APC is out of touch with the economic realities of ordinary citizens.
One respondent, Christopher Iheme, supported Ahmad's stance but expressed pessimism about a reversal, stating, "...what this tells you is that APC has no regard for the ordinary Nigerians." Another commenter, Toochukwu of Divine Mercy, suggested the high fee was a revenue-generating tactic in a non-competitive selection process, implying that candidates are often pre-chosen.
Further criticism came from a user named Jolabodi, who pointed out the historical lack of proper local government elections, referring to them as "selections." Another user, Tasetipresident, drew a harsh economic comparison, likening the APC's model to that of the old Northern People's Congress and criticizing a lack of productive investment.
Broader Context and Party Tragedy
The controversy over the nomination forms comes amid other challenges for the APC. In a related but separate development, the party was recently struck by tragedy in Kogi State. The state government, through the Commissioner for Information and Communication, Kingsley Fanwo, announced the death of three prominent APC chieftains on Monday, January 12.
While the statement did not disclose the circumstances surrounding their deaths, it cast a somber shadow and prompted condolences from many Nigerians, alongside calls for clarity on the incident.
The combination of internal tragedy and public backlash over the cost of political participation presents a significant moment for the ruling party, forcing a conversation about inclusivity, corruption, and the true cost of democracy in Nigeria's local government system.
