…As Kogi youths present N100m teller payment to party’s leadership
Throwback Times Nigeria has learnt that the National Working Committee (NWC) of the All Progressives Congress (APC) has ordered groups and/or individuals planning to purchase expression of interest and nomination forms for Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s 2027 re-election bid not to bother anymore.
The chairman of the ruling party, Nentawe Goshwe Yilwatda, gave the directive when Kogi State youths, led by Governor Usman Ododo, presented a N100 million teller for the purchase of the presidential nomination forms to the party’s national leadership in Abuja on Monday.
Nentawe said that though another youth group had presented a N200 million dummy cheque for the purchase of the same nomination forms, they are yet to fulfill their promise.
While revealing the possibility of raising the price of nomination forms for next year’s general elections, he emphasized that there is no need for any other group or individual to plan to pay additional money for the purchase of re-election forms for President Tinubu.
“We saw many young people appointed as CEOs in different capacities. That is why these youths have donated the sum of N100 million to Mr. President for the purchase of his expression of interest and nomination forms. To me, this is something all Nigerians, especially the youths and party members, should be proud of.
“We are proud of the Kogi youths. This is the first time in Nigeria’s history that youths are not saying, ‘Take us to Mr. President so he can give us something,’ but instead saying, ‘We don’t want to see him; we want to buy the form for him.’ That is unique. You are a torchlight. You are a pillar. You are an example to all the youths of Nigeria, and we are proud of you.
“They have presented both the dummy cheque and the actual payment. This is not a promise. This is real money. The cash has been paid into the party’s account.
“With this payment, I want to announce that nobody should bother bringing money again to buy the form for Mr. President because the form has already been procured in advance by the Kogi youths,” he said.
He also ruled out any review of the nomination form fees, stating that during the recently concluded congresses, the party reduced the cost of forms by nearly 50 percent compared to 2022.
“We want this party to be accessible. Money is not our priority. Our priority is inclusiveness, so that even the poorest can access our forms and contest. If you have leadership quality, money should not be a barrier,” he added.
Justifying the purchase, Governor Ododo said: “In the history of this country, no government has given youths space the way Mr. President has done. I am a beneficiary of that.”
Kogi youth leader, Mr. Mundi, also promised to make up the difference if the party increases the price of nomination forms, noting that more than N100 million has already been reserved in case of any increment.
