Abdulrasheed Bawa, Chairman of Nigeria’s anti-graft agency –Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) has stated that they’ve taken a major decision to closely monitor sources of funds being used in the purchase of party nomination forms.
Bawa stated on Friday, that the cost of expression of interest and nomination forms of the All Progressive Congress (APC), and the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) were not child’s play, and sources from where such monies were being drawn, would be monitored to ensure zero corruption from those intending to lead the country.
“It is quite some money. It will take a lifetime for you to save N40 million and N100 million.
“We are working hand in glove with INEC as well as other related agencies in that field to ensure that we follow the money and we know the source, whether it is legitimate or illegitimate, because that is what concerns us.
“Above all, we are concerned about good governance, transparency, accountability and we are concerned about ensuring that corrupt elements are not given leadership positions in this country,” he stated.
Recently, there has been an upsurge in the number of political declarations, with most top politicians gunning for the office of the president.
In spite of the outrageous amounts that the forms are going for, aspirations have not wavered as each day, expression of interest and nomination forms get picked.
102-year-old presidential aspirant, Josephine Ezeanyaeche few days ago, called on anti-graft agencies to probe those purchasing the APC nomination forms.
“I have never seen a thing like this all over the world that politicians will pay such amount on the nomination form. It shows they are a group of potential criminals with the intention to go and steal because the remuneration of the office they are paying such amount for cannot recoup the money back to them in the four years without them stealing.
“It is surprising that our anti-graft agencies are watching as politicians will be paying as much as N100million buying nomination forms. This is a deliberate means of excluding the youths. Since 1999, we have never heard of such a thing like this, but Nigerians should be wiser.
“Our votes must count in the 2023 elections, although you can’t have a totally free and fair election anywhere in the world, but Nigerians must demand that their votes count in the next election,” the agile president aspirant said.
Many Nigerians have also expressed concern over the ease with which politicians are buying such expensive forms as though the amount being paid was insignificant.
There is however, a trend that has preceded these purchases: most presidential aspirants have claimed that the forms were being bought by their fans or support groups within and outside the country.