Attorney General of the Federation (AGF), the Independent National
Electoral Commission (INEC), the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) and other
registered political parties before the Federal High Court, sitting in
Abuja.In a Suit with No. FHC/ABJ/CS/951/2018, the Presidential aspirant is
asking the court to restrain the APC, PDP and others from collecting fees
for nomination and expression of interest forms.Akpodiete wants the Court to stop the schedule primaries and if they do,
he’s asking the court to declare such primaries null and void.
The Delta State born Politician and U.S based Lawyer is also asking the
Court to restrain INEC from recognizing such primaries, pending the
determination of the substantial suit.
Akpodiete is of the opinion that the nomination fees charged by political
parties are not only ridiculous and exorbitant but unconstitutional.
“The nomination fees are repugnant to the rules of natural justice, equity
and good conscience”, he said.
“It’s an attempt by the Nigeria political oligarchs to make nonsense of
the just passed (NOT TOO YOUNG TO RUN LAW), and it is a calculated move to
deprive the Nigeria people their constitutional guaranteed right to run
for public office in their own country” Akpodiete said.
Akpodiete is asking the court to give a judicial breath to this matter by
pegging the nomination fees for all elective positions at N18,000,00.
(Eighteen thousand naira only), because that is the nation national
minimum wage.
Akpodiete is praying the court that if the nomination fees is beyond that
amount, the ordinary Nigerian worker who earns N18,000,00, (eighteen
thousand Naira) monthly, would be deprived the capacity to achieve their
constitutionally guaranteed right, which includes the right to run for
public office.
This action, according to him, is based on a breach of the fundamental
human right of all Nigeria aspirant and any attempt to keep the Nigeria
people down shall be collectively rejected.
It will be recalled that Akpodiete have earlier on June 29th 2018, wrote
to APC chairman, Comrade Adams Oshiomhole and the national working
committee, appealing to them to jettison the nomination fees, but his plea
fell on deff ears.
The case is awaiting hearing.