SUNTV Global Channel | January 17, 2026 | Abakaliki
The All Progressives Congress (APC) in Ebonyi State has fixed the cost of its local government chairmanship nomination form at N30 million, a figure that has sparked debate as it exceeds the total official earnings of a council chairman over a four-year tenure.
The announcement was made by the APC State Chairman, Chief Stanley Okoro Emegha, while briefing journalists in Abakaliki after a closed-door meeting with party stakeholders from across the state.
According to Emegha, the meeting brought together APC officials from the grassroots to the state level, including the party’s 13 Local Government Chairmen as well as 171 ward chairmen and secretaries. He said the gathering was aimed at familiarising party executives with forthcoming APC programmes and strengthening communication within the party structure ahead of future political activities.
“We felt it was important to align all party executives and ensure effective dissemination of information across all levels of the APC in Ebonyi State,” Emegha said.
However, attention quickly shifted to the cost of the nomination form for chairmanship aspirants, which the party fixed at N30 million. The amount has since generated controversy, with critics questioning how a position with modest official remuneration could attract such an expensive entry fee.
In a related development, reports emerged on Friday that Osborn Umahi, son of the Minister of Works and former Ebonyi State Governor, Engr. Dave Umahi, had picked the APC chairmanship nomination form for Ohaozara Local Government Area.
His appearance at the APC Secretariat reportedly drew large crowds of supporters, with many party members trooping in to witness the purchase of the form, further fuelling public interest and debate around the process.
A review of figures obtained from the Revenue Mobilisation Allocation and Fiscal Commission (RMAFC) highlights the stark contrast between the nomination cost and the official earnings of a local government chairman.
According to RMAFC data, a council chairman earns an annual basic salary of about N3.5 million, with allowances totaling roughly N2.7 million per year. This brings the total annual remuneration to approximately N6.3 million.
Over a four-year term, the cumulative earnings would amount to about N25.2 million, which is N4.8 million less than the N30 million nomination fee required by the APC—excluding campaign expenses and other political costs.
The development has reignited concerns over the monetisation of Nigeria’s political process, particularly at the grassroots level, where local governments are meant to serve as the closest tier of governance to the people.
Analysts warn that exorbitant nomination fees could discourage capable but less wealthy individuals from contesting, while also raising questions about how elected officials might seek to recoup their political investments once in office.
Nigeria has long grappled with allegations of corruption and misuse of public funds, and critics argue that high-cost political entry barriers risk deepening governance challenges rather than strengthening democratic accountability.
As reactions continue to trail the announcement, SUNTV Global Channel will monitor developments and responses from the APC, civil society groups, and stakeholders across Ebonyi State.
