A House of Representatives aspirant for Idemili North and South Federal Constituency on the platform of the African Democratic Congress (ADC), Chiogo Constance Ikokwu, has called on political parties in Nigeria to scrap or significantly reduce the cost of nomination forms to improve political participation.
In a statement titled “End the Paywall on Leadership: Let Competence, Not Cash, Decide Our Candidates,” Ikokwu said the high cost of nomination forms has made political participation inaccessible to many qualified Nigerians, particularly women, young people and persons with disabilities (PWDs).
She argued that the country’s democratic system cannot thrive if access to leadership positions is determined by financial strength rather than competence and integrity.
According to her, political parties—especially the ADC under whose platform she is contesting—should take deliberate steps to either eliminate nomination fees or introduce significant reductions, particularly for women and PWDs, to encourage broader participation.
Ikokwu said the current system has created barriers that prevent capable candidates from entering the political arena, limiting opportunities for inclusive representation and weakening democratic development.
She further noted that high nomination costs have contributed to the rise of money-driven politics, which she said sidelines credible candidates with strong ideas but limited financial resources.
Drawing from her experience as a journalist-turned-politician, Ikokwu said she had witnessed how expensive nomination forms discourage many potential candidates from contesting elective positions.
She maintained that reducing financial barriers to participation would not only expand access but also improve the quality of leadership by allowing candidates to emerge based on competence, character and commitment to public service rather than financial capacity.