The African Action Congress (AAC) party has established the fees for its expression of interest and nomination forms required for individuals seeking to contest the 2027 presidential election. According to the party's National Publicity Secretary, Rex Elanu, the cost for these forms will be N2.1 million.
Elanu's announcement, made in a statement on Monday, also detailed the commencement of the expression of interest process for the upcoming general elections. He specified that the expression of interest form is priced at N100,000, with the nomination form costing an additional N2 million.
The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has scheduled the 2027 presidential and National Assembly elections for January 16, and the governorship and state assembly elections for February 6.
For governorship aspirants, the AAC has set the combined cost of the expression of interest and nomination forms at N1.1 million. Similarly, candidates vying for Senate positions will also need to pay N1.1 million.
Aspiring members of the House of Representatives are required to pay N600,000, while those seeking election into state Houses of Assembly will pay N250,000. For local government chairmanship positions, the fee is N120,000, and for councillorship aspirants, it is N60,000 for both forms.
In a move to promote inclusivity, the AAC has approved a 50% reduction on nomination form fees for female candidates. Furthermore, nomination forms will be provided free of charge to Persons With Disabilities (PWDs).
Interested candidates are encouraged to obtain and submit their application forms through the official AAC website.
The pricing of nomination forms has frequently been a subject of debate in Nigeria's political landscape, with critics arguing that high costs restrict participation to affluent individuals and hinder internal party democracy.
In contrast to the fees often set by major political parties like the All Progressives Congress (APC) and the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), the AAC's comparatively lower fees are intended to attract a broader range of candidates, including younger individuals, grassroots politicians, and activists who may find it difficult to afford the entry requirements of more established parties.
The AAC's timetable indicates that the sale of forms will take place from April 7 to April 24. Following this, the screening, review, and political education sessions for aspirants are scheduled from April 25 to May 16.
Primary elections are slated to occur between May 20 and May 26, with a one- day window, May 27, allocated for addressing any appeals arising from the primaries.
The party has extended an invitation to Nigerians who wish to contribute to the nation's future, urging them to join the AAC movement aimed at restoring and rebuilding the country.
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