Another crisis brews in APC over non-refund of nomination fees

Four months after President Muhammadu Buhari ordered a refund of nomination fees to aspirants who stepped down during the All Progressives Congress (APC) March 26 consensus National Convention, the party is yet to comply.

 

Investigations also showed that the party is indebted to members engaged to conduct the congresses (ward to the National Convention) ahead of the 2023 general elections.

The party, in the last two months, has also failed in the payment of staff salary as at when due. June salary was paid mid July and workers only received their July pay last Friday, as against payment on the 25th of every month.

President Buhari, at March 24 meeting with eight national chairmanship aspirants, persuaded them to step down for a consensus candidate, with a promise to refund their nomination fees.

Each aspirant for party offices paid between N20 and N2.5 million for the expression of interest and nomination forms, depending on the office contested for. Investigations showed that the party raked in over N700 million from about 170 persons.

It was also learnt that the party generated over N3 billion from members who purchased the expression of interest and nomination forms to contest for tickets ahead if the 2023 general elections.

But despite the huge receipts, affected party members are complaining about the non-compliance with the presidential directive.

Other members who may soon launch an attack on the Senator Abdullahi Adamu-led National Working Committee (NWC) are those engaged to conduct screening and party primaries that produced  candidates for the 2023 election. Nation