Warawa Faults Rising Nomination Fees, Urges ADC to Reverse Policy Shift

Former Kano State governorship running mate in the 2023 general election, Dr. Aminu Abdurahman Anas Warawa, has criticised the growing trend of exorbitant nomination fees among political parties in Nigeria, warning that the development threatens democratic inclusion and public confidence in the electoral process. Speaking during a media briefing, Warawa expressed concern over what he described as the increasing commercialisation of political participation, particularly within party primary elections. According to him, internal party processes that should ordinarily strengthen democracy have gradually become sources of division, exclusion, and widespread disenchantment among party members and the electorate. “Party primaries are no longer widely perceived as fair contests of ideas, competence, and leadership capacity,” he said. “Instead, they are increasingly characterised by disputes, allegations of manipulation, and perceptions of exclusion.” Warawa argued that the rising cost of expression of interest and nomination forms has effectively shut out many qualified Nigerians from contesting elective offices, especially young people, professionals, and women without significant financial resources. He warned that the trend sends a dangerous message that political leadership is reserved for wealthy individuals and political elites. The former governorship running mate particularly criticised the recent decision of the African Democratic Congress (ADC) to introduce high nomination fees, describing the move as a departure from the party’s founding principles. According to him, the ADC had previously distinguished itself as a reform-oriented platform by lowering financial barriers and encouraging broader political participation through concessional and, in some cases, free nomination forms. He said the reversal risks undermining the party’s credibility among Nigerians seeking alternatives to the dominant political parties. “By adopting a pricing structure similar to that of the APC, the ADC risks diluting its identity as a reform-oriented platform,” Warawa stated. He added that excessive nomination costs could deepen patronage politics and encourage office holders to view public office as an investment to be recovered after elections. Warawa also drew comparisons with democratic practices in other countries, noting that political parties in the United Kingdom maintain relatively modest administrative fees, while South Africa places greater emphasis on grassroots support and internal vetting processes. He further observed that in the United States, access to party primaries is not conditioned on exorbitant nomination fees despite the influence of campaign financing. Calling for urgent reforms, Warawa proposed a new framework for nomination fees aimed at balancing administrative realities with democratic inclusion. Under his proposal, nomination fees should not exceed ₦500,000 for State House of Assembly seats, ₦1 million for the House of Representatives, ₦3 million for Senate seats, ₦5 million for governorship positions, and ₦10 million for presidential aspirants. He urged political parties, particularly the ADC, to reconsider current policies and prioritise affordability and inclusiveness in their internal processes. “Nigeria’s democracy cannot thrive if access to leadership is determined primarily by wealth rather than competence, vision, and integrity,” he said. Warawa concluded by stressing that the future of Nigeria’s democracy should depend on the quality of leadership aspirants can offer rather than their financial capacity.

We’re Closely Monitoring Egina Spill Situation -NIMASA

The Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency (NIMASA) has said it is closely monitoring the crude oil spill incident which took place during loading operations in Egina on 15th November 2023 at about 6:30am. The Assistant Director, Public Relations, NIMASA, Osagie Edwards, in a statement said the Agency is working closely with the National Oil Spill Detection and Response Agency (NOSDRA) and Nigerian Upstream Petroleum Regulatory Commission (NUPRC) from the Crisis Management Room CMR, where the spill is being monitored real time using oil spill monitoring software from the Emergency Response Centre. NIMASA explained that though the volume of the spill is not yet confirmed, Total Energies is providing aerial surveillance, dispersant application, while further mobilization is being considered.  “The Oil Spill Response Limited from the United Kingdom is also assisting with pollution control measures. Reconnaissance survey of the impacted area confirms that the shoreline communities of Andoni, Qua-Iboe terminals, Bonny Island, Opobo/Nkoro and Eastern Obolo, which are closest to Egina, are not yet affected,” the Agency said.  NIMASA Director General of NIMASA, Dr Bashir Jamoh, noted that the Agency is in collaboration with all stakeholders to control the pollution and also put in place measures to prevent such occurrences in the future, in line with provisions of the MARPOL Convention. “Since the incident happened, our men have been liaising with other organs of Government to ensure the pollution is effectively controlled and managed, to protect the marine environment and the communities close to the incident point. Accidents do happen, it’s what we do thereafter that matters and I believe that the IOC Total, working with NIMASA, NUPRC, NOSDRA and collaborating with international service providers, will surely ensure proper management of the spill,” he said.

Kano Guber Judgement Saga: Appeal Court Cites Clerical Error

The Chief Registrar of the Court of Appeal, Mr Umar Mohammed Bangari has cleared air on the controversies surrounding the judgment delivered by the Court on Kano gubernatorial election dispute. Bangari in reaction to the controversies said that what happened in the judgment body was a clerical error that did not in anyway invalidate or change the findings and conclusion of the court. The Chief Registrar assured that the clerical error would be rectified once parties in the matter file formal application to that effect. He drew the attention of newsmen to Order 23 Rule 4 of the Court of Appeal Handbook which empowers the court to correct any clerical error once detected by the court or any of the parties in the matter. He however insisted that contrary to insinuations, the judgment of the court remains valid. “What happened in the part of the judgment is just a mere clerical error that ought not to draw any issue. The Court is empowered to correct such clerical error and would be done as appropriate. There had been misgivings and a series of interpretations into the judgment which upheld the judgment of Kano State Governorship Election Petition Tribunal that invalidated the election of Kabir Yusuf of the New Nigeria People’s Party (NNPP) as winner of the March 18 gubernatorial poll.

Kano Guber: Don’t Allow Tribunal Truncate Justice In Kano, CCLCA Cautions FG

*As Kano women beg FG for intervention A coalition of Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) accredited foreign and domestic observers for the 2023 Kano Governorship election, has warned the political gladiators to desist from truncating the will of the Kano people. The group, made up of seven civil society organization, maintained that INEC’s declaration of the NNPP candidate, Abba Kabir Yusuf as the winner of that election, represents the voice of the people and in consistent with their observation in the field. Meanwhile, Kano woman have cried out to the federal government, to allow justice prevail in Kano, adding that they will have no home and their children will have no school to attend if problems escalated. Addressing the press on Monday, the Director General, Centre for Credible Leadership and Citizens Awareness (CCLCA), Dr Gabriel Nwambu, decried the miscarriage of justice perpetrated by the Kano state tribunal. To drive home his point, Dr Nwambu noted that Justice Flora Azinge, one of the justices of the State Assembly tribunal raised alarm over an attempt to offer N10 million to one of his staff, with the intension to subvert justice in the course of the proceedings of the tribunal. According to him, this implies that there has been an unprecedented attempt to subvert justice and subvert the popular wish of the electorate in Kano state. The group also expressed shocked over the Tribunals ruling bothering on the disqualification of the Governor of Kano state as member of the NNPP, adding that the matter is a pre-election matter which the tribunal had no jurisdiction. They were also dismayed on the nullification of over one hundred thousands valid votes which was an integral part of the power exercised by the electorates as enshrined in the 1999 constitution as amended has never been seen before in the history of Nigeria. They therefore, call for caution, noting how the spate of coup d’etat in Africa is spreading very fast and advise the political elites to look beyond their personal gains and focus on the unity and coexistence of the Nigerian nation.  “By this medium, we wish to advice the political elites in Kano state to shield their swords and allow the people’s votes to count. Kano state is a cosmopolitan City in Nigeria, therefore igniting issues capable of causing breakdown of law and order would not be in the interest of the Nigerian nation. “The present situation in Kano could deteriorate even further if not treated with utmost caution and urgency. The Judiciary is said to be the hope of the common man. We, hereby advice that care should be taken in Kano state to resolve the present judicial process with utmost caution. Let us allow the NNPP which is the party that truly won the 18th March, 2023 Governorship election serve the people of Kano,” he concluded. The coalition group includes Centre for Credible Leadership and Citizens Awareness, Pan African Women Projects, African Union and Organization orf Justice and Equity. Also among the coalition are Intercontinental Leadership Initiative, Global Centre for Conscious Living Against Corruption and Initiative for Voter Awareness and Electoral Reform.