The National Working Committee of the African Action Congress has disclosed that its expression of interest and nomination forms are free for all aspirants.
The Committee said anyone varying for the office of the President up to the Local Government Area office.
A statement signed by the party’s National Publicity Secretary, Femi Adeyeye, and sighted by our correspondent , stated that the party reasons why the party decided to make the nomination forms free.
The statement reads in part: “We hereby declare that the expression of interest and nomination forms of our great party is free for all aspirants.
“The AAC seizes this medium to announce to members of the party and the general public its resolution reached at its meeting of April 24, 2022, one of which is to declare free for all positions, the expression of interest and nomination forms. With a maddening inflation rate of 18 per cent, unemployment at 33.3 per cent, youth unemployment at 53.4 per cent, underemployment at 51 per cent, the Dollar to Naira exchange rate at 599 Naira to 1 Dollar, hike in electricity and other tariffs, workers’ minimum wage of N30,000, which in reality is barely paid, it is near impossible to find brilliant, financially upright and competent change-seeking Nigerians who would pay exorbitant and illegal fees such as those of the All Progressives Congress and the Peoples Democratic Party, just so as to contest in an election.
“As the Buhari regime has priced education, quality healthcare and other social services from the reach of the poor, it is clearer now more than ever, that it has priced participatory democracy so far from the reach of genuine change-seeking but poor people.
“The downward review from the AAC NWC, to the point of declaring free for all positions, came after a clinical assessment of the economic woes caused by the unfortunate Buhari regime.
“We understand that, for inclusive democracy to be kept alive in our society, even the poorest among us must not be disenfranchised through the backdoor – the money politics the evil twin, the APC and the PDP, are known for.
“For comprehensive details of the obligatory donations and form processing fees, which would be paid at the state level, aspirants should reach out to admin@aacparty.org, and the following phone numbers, +234 812 599 9992 and +234 816 905 3108.
It is also important to bring to the notice of the public that the National Working Committee of the party has launched into action a committee of very experienced labour cadres with a term of reference to engage labour centres across the country and beyond on the ideas and ideals of the party. The seven-person committee was inaugurated on April 5, 2022, and started work immediately.
“Also, as an ideological party charged with the mandate to radically transform Africa, starting from Nigeria, the NWC also found it necessary that the party manifesto is reviewed so that the programmes of the party are in perfect tune with the current realities of our people across Africa. It was to this effect that a technical committee was set up on February 7, 2022, and it has set the ball rolling to consult far and wide on the programmes of the party and present its final draft in due time.
“We urge all Nigerians to seize this opportunity of modern politics fashioned by the AAC, join our party, engage our programmes, contest with ideas, mobilise, and bond with us as we kick out the behemoth of the APC and the PDP and their allies come 2023. We cannot continue like this.”
