The All Progressives Congress (APC) in Taraba State has described the imposition of fees to be paid by candidates contesting the forthcoming November 8 local government elections as a deliberate strategy to disenfranchise other political parties from participating in the election.
The state Chairman of the Party, Barr. Ibrahim Tukur El-Sudi while briefing Journalists in Jalingo.
He disclosed that the Taraba State Independent Electoral Commission (TSIEC) imposed a N1 million fee on Chairmanship Candidates and N500,000 the Vice Chairmanship Candidates.
According to the guidelines, Female candidates contesting for Vice-Chairmanship position would pay ₦250,000, while the Male Councillorship Candidates ₦150,000, and Female Councillorship Candidates ₦75,000, and persons with disabilities are exempted.
The APC Chairman decried that TSIEC imposed the conditions contrary to the Supreme Court directives as stipulated in the 1999 Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria as amended, and vowed that the APC would challenge the imposition of the fees in court if not reversed immediately.
He also called on Governor Agbu Kefas to prevail on TSIEC to delete the provision, explaining that the Supreme Court and the Constitution stipulate that an electoral body shall not impose such conditions for candidates to participate in an election.
“We wish to call on Governor Agbu Kefas to prevail on TSIEC to delete the provision in the guidelines to avoid disenfranchisement of the citizens.
“The position of the Supreme Court on candidates participating in an election is clear. The fee imposed as a condition is not in consonance with the Supreme Court stipulations.
“We have viewed this as a strategy to disenfranchise other political parties from participating in the election.
“PDP is afraid to go into the election considering what happened in the Karim-Lamido by-election for a vacant state Assembly seat.
“We have gathered that the arrangement between PDP and TSIEC would exempt PDP candidates from paying the fees, which would instead be deducted from their salaries if they win.
“Even if such a condition were allowed, it should apply to all candidates without discrimination.
“We will go to court if TSIEC fails to withdraw the condition. This is not a law. It is a guideline and should be withdrawn,” the party insisted.
Barrister Tukur El-Sudi also appealed to the Board of Internal Revenue Services to reduce the fees for candidates seeking tax clearance certificates which one of the conditions stipulated for candidates contesting the election, citing current economic hardship.
“The tax clearance fees imposed on political parties’ candidates participating in the November 8 election are too high. We are not saying it should be free, but we are appealing for a reduction.
“The ₦1 million tax clearance fee for Chairmanship and ₦500,000 for Councillorship is too high considering the present economic hardship,” the party appealed.
He expressed optimism that Governor Agbu Kefas would intervene by prevailing on both TSIEC and the board of internal revenue to do the needful to avoid political disharmony between political parties and the two bodies.
Meanwhile, the State PDP Chairman, Alhaji Abubakar Bawa, has inaugurated members of the committee constituted to conduct a thorough appraisal of the August 16-17, 2025, Karim-Lamido I State Constituency by-election.
The inauguration ceremony took place at the PDP State Secretariat Conference Hall in Jalingo.
While inaugurating the 8-man committee, Alhaji Abubakar Bawa urged them to complete and submit their report within two weeks.
“You will all recall that our great Party participated in the Karim-Lamido I By-Election to elect a replacement for a Member who resigned to serve the State as a Hon. Commissioner.
“It is with mixed feelings that the State Working Committee examined the outcome of the election against the backdrop of the roles of individuals and groups in the buildup to the elections and inappropriate conduct of some stakeholders during the election.
“This committee has the onerous task of dealing fearlessly with issues that militated against the fortunes of our great Party during and after the election.
“For avoidance of doubt, the committee has the following Terms of Reference:
– To examine roles of critical stakeholders of Karim-Lamido LGA before and during the election.
– Identify institutional lapses/negligence that may have impacted negatively on the processes and chances of our Party.
– Any other suggestion(s) that would strengthen the Party in Karim-Lamido LGA and forestall reoccurrence of the experience of August 16-17, 2025.
“This Committee is hereby duly inaugurated and has two weeks to complete and submit its report.”
The committee members include: Hon. Aminu Jika – Chairman, Hon. Kuriya Tafarki – Secretary, Dr. Ahmed Jedua – Member, Hon. Solomon Dominic – Member, Hon. Bala S. Bako – Member, Hon. Edna Wunuji Usman – Member and Hon. David Ishaya Kassa – Member.
