‘Politics Now a Cash Game’: Nigerian Youth Priced Out of Local Elections
‘Politics Now a Cash Game’: Nigerian Youth Priced Out of Local Elections – By Global Press Journal – In a country where many survive on less than US$2 a day, joining local politics is becoming a rich man’s game.
Twenty-eight-year-old Simon Dibia had dreams of contesting for a councillor seat in Lagos State’s upcoming July 12 elections.
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But the dream died early crushed by a 600,000 naira (US$389) price tag, plus a 100,000 naira admin fee, just to pick up a nomination form from the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC).
And that was the discounted youth rate.
Had Dibia been over 40, the fee would’ve jumped to 1.1 million naira (US$713).
For those eyeing a chairmanship seat, it’s even worse 5.5 million naira (US$3,561) for older male candidates.
“Someone like me, who saves around 50,000 naira (US$31) a month, can’t even dream of raising that kind of money,” said Dibia.
“And so, like many other aspiring leaders without deep pockets, he quietly dropped out of the race.
Critics say the skyrocketing fees have turned grassroots politics into an elite club — gatekeeping democracy through price tags.
While APC defends the fees as necessary for serious contenders, civic activists say it’s blatant exclusion.
“This is a deliberate gatekeeping mechanism,” said Samson Itodo of Yiaga Africa. “It ensures only the wealthy or those backed by them can participate.”
In a country where minimum wage is 70,000 naira (US$45), and most workers earn less than 200,000 naira (US$126) monthly, such costs push politics out of reach for ordinary Nigerians.
While other parties like the Youth Party or Labour Party also charge, their fees are significantly lower. Yet even discounted rates are unaffordable for many.
As Nigeria’s political future hangs in the balance, questions mount over whether local democracy is truly open to the people or reserved for those who can afford the ticket.