By Raphael Okhiria
Any governorship aspirant who can’t afford to pay 30 million naira for forms to contest his/her party’s primary election, is not fully ready for the forthcoming gubernatorial election in Edo State, Labour Party (LP) chairman, Kelly Ogbaloi, has said.
Ogbaloi who spoke against the backdrop of the litany of complaints against the 30 million naira fee to contest the LP primary election slated for February 22, 2024, said it wasn’t possible for the leadership of the party to further reduce the amount.
According to him, the 30 million naira pegged for the party’s primary election is very low and considerate in view of the economic condition of the country.
“If an aspirant at this (governorship) level can’t afford to pay for 30 million naira, then we’ll be surprised how such an aspirant wishes to pursue the campaign and win an election. You are aware the role money plays in the Nigeria politics; so as at today, we’re saying 30 million naira and there’s an outcry?
“It’s disappointing, any aspirant unable to afford that is not basically ready to be able to pursue the election. And we want to win, we’re going to compete with very radical political parties; so how do we go there with empty hands?
“We are not going to be extravagant but people must be paid for the services rendered, so that is the situation”, Comrade Ogbaloi, told The Reliance.
He noted that the party’s primary election is a very serious business for the political party and all those wanting to be her candidate for a high level election such as the gubernatorial election, saying that only the bold and serious contestants can dare to rise up to be counted.
In order to separate the boys from the men and pretenders from the genuine participants, the leadership of the LP at the state level is taking every step to right size the number of aspirants pursing forward to the primary election.
“We’re already interacting with the aspirants to understand that we need just one person to become the Governor of this state.
“So we have met them on several occasions and we’re still meeting to advise that there’s no need going into the primaries with this regiment of people and then at the end of the day, you’d have burnt your candles at both ends.
“If we’re in a classroom, you must be able to identify those who are more clever than you and it’s natural to get close to those people so that you can belong to that class of intelligent individuals.
“So we’ve advised them because the party isn’t going to take delight in having everyone going to pay 30 million naira for forms. Yes, we need money but it’s not to that extent.
“That is why I’ve devised a method of meeting and talking with them. The week that just passed, we did Edo South, Edo Central, and Edo North, speaking to them on different occasions to say that this vote will be better.
“If we can have two each from the three senatorial districts, that’s sufficient and we can take them to the primaries so we can get someone that will stand for us.
“Besides that, whoever is a contestant is already a member of the party and it’s not good for there to be a winner takes all. So, even if you didn’t buy a form to contest, provided you’re a member of the party, on the day of reckoning, everyone would be carried along.
“So, I think that this is done to show the candidates that are really serious and capable. I mean, it surprises us that some aspirants come around and say that it’s too high”, Comrade Kelly Ogbaloi, added.
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