The All Progressives Congress (APC) in Borno State has announced a 50 per cent reduction in the cost of nomination forms for women and persons with disabilities ahead of the December 13 local government elections in the state.
This was disclosed by the APC State Chairman, Alhaji Bello Ayuba, during a press briefing held on Friday in Maiduguri.
Ayuba stated that the nomination forms for councillorship positions would now cost ₦250,000 for women and physically challenged aspirants, while chairmanship forms would cost ₦1 million. This represents a 50 per cent cut from the standard fees of ₦500,000 and ₦2 million respectively.
The fee adjustment, according to Ayuba, followed consultations with party stakeholders and a review of similar practices in Katsina and Lagos States, aimed at promoting inclusivity and expanding access to political participation for underrepresented groups.
“The decision is part of our commitment to ensure wider participation in the political process, especially by women and persons living with disabilities,” the chairman said.
He added that the party remained committed to conducting free, fair, and transparent primaries, assuring that all aspirants would be given equal opportunity to contest.
“Whosoever is willing to contest for chairmanship or councillorship, as long as they are members of the party, the door is open to all,” Ayuba said.
The party, he said, had completed the nomination form sales stage and would soon commence screening of aspirants vying for 27 local government chairmanship seats and 320 ward councillorship positions across the state.
He further explained that in areas where only one aspirant emerged, the party would conduct affirmation exercises to ensure broad acceptance of the candidates by local party structures.
Following the screening and affirmation processes, APC would forward the list of approved candidates to the Borno State Independent Electoral Commission (BORSEC) for further electoral preparations.
Ayuba also disclosed plans to constitute larger electoral committees at various levels to oversee compliance with party guidelines and ensure transparency throughout the process.
He urged party members and supporters to remain peaceful and law-abiding during the electoral period, reaffirming APC’s resolve to uphold democratic values and deliver credible elections in Borno State.
