APC denies 2027 nomination fees report, calling viral claims fake and misleading amid public debate on political costs

The All Progressives Congress (APC), through its National Publicity Secretary, Felix Morka, on Saturday dismissed as “fake and misleading” a widely circulated report claiming to detail the prices of expression of interest and nomination forms for the 2027 general elections.

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Felix Morka, speaking in a statement issued in Abuja, said no decision had been taken regarding the sale or pricing of forms for the next electoral cycle, urging party members, the media and the public to disregard the report entirely.

The viral claims, which gained traction between March 26 and 27, alleged that presidential aspirants would pay N200 million, governorship hopefuls N150 million, senatorial candidates N100 million, House of Representatives aspirants N70 million, and state assembly contenders N20 million.

The figures quickly spread across news platforms and social media, sparking a fierce and polarising debate among political observers and legal practitioners over the rising cost of political participation.

Morka described the report as “a mere figment of the writer’s mischievous imagination”, stressing that the party would communicate any official decisions through its accredited channels.

The clarification followed shortly after the APC’s national convention in Abuja, where a new National Working Committee was elected to oversee the party’s affairs for the next four years.

Despite the prompt rebuttal, the controversy has reignited concerns about the monetisation of politics in Nigeria and the barriers it may pose to broader democratic inclusion.

Legal practitioner John Oloyede, speaking during a television interview, warned that such speculative figures reflect a troubling pattern that could discourage capable but less wealthy Nigerians from contesting for public office.

John Oloyede said the trend of escalating political costs risks prioritising financial strength over competence, noting that concerns about access to leadership positions have persisted for decades without meaningful reform.

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APC denies 2027 nomination fees claims, but the debate triggered by the report continues to underscore deeper anxieties about fairness and accessibility within Nigeria’s political system.