All Progressives Congress (APC) has released the guidelines for aspirants contesting in its party for Chairmanship, Vice Chairmanship and Councillorship positions in the state’s forthcoming election which will be held on Saturday, July 24.
The party’s Caretaker Committee Chairman and the Caretaker Committee Secretary, Alhaji Tunde Balogun and Lanre Ogunyemi respectively, who made this known in the guidelines jointly signed on Monday, said that it was the duty of the party to provide guidelines for its members seeking to contest the election.
They noted that the guidelines would without prejudice conform with the provisions of the party’s constitution, the 2010 Electoral Act (as amended), the Nigerian Constitution, the Lagos State Local Government (Administration) Law and Guidelines of Lagos State Independent Electoral Commission (LASIEC).
“The party’s constitution prescribes that member’s name in the Register of Members shall be the prima facie evidence of valid registration as a member.
“Hence, the first requirement is that any aspirant on the platform of the party shall comply with this provision.
“The aspirant shall be a Nigerian citizen, registered member of the party, pays the prescribed fees and must not be a member of any other political party.
“All aspirants must submit the evidence of membership of the party, submit a demonstrable evidence of active party support and provide a portfolio of loyalty to the party and evidence of non-involvement in any anti-party activity,” the party leaders said.
According to them, all aspirants must sign the party’s code of conduct and the only aspirant cleared by the screening committee shall be eligible to stand election at the party’s primaries.
They added that every aspirant shall be present for scrutiny of all certificates that he or she laid claims to, noting that the screening committee shall take into consideration full information on an aspirant’s background such as education, political experience, team spirit and reputation.
They said that there shall be a five-man screening appeal committee that will be responsible for hearing of all appeals arising from the screening committee’s report.
The duo said that a disqualified aspirant might seek review of the screening committee’s decision by appealing to the State Caretaker Committee through the state caretaker chairman.
There shall be a State Electoral Committee (SEC) for Chairmanship or Councillorship nomination and the LGA/LCDA Electoral Committee who must be persons of proven integrity, they added.
The state caretaker committee said that all accredited party members from the ward shall be entitled to vote in a direct primary system for aspirants of their choice.
They said that sales and submission of party forms would hold between May 4 and May 11 while the screening of aspirants would start from May 13 and end on May 21.
According to them, all appeals shall be heard from May 22 to May 26 while the primaries for Chairmanship and Councillorship aspirants would hold on May 29.
The forms are expected to be purchased in the format below...
CHAIRMANSHIP:
MALE: N2 million + (50,000 admin fee)
FEMALE: N1 million + (50,000 admin fee)
COUNCILLORSHIP:
MALE: N500,000 + (50,000 admin fee)
FEMALE: N250,000 + (50,000 admin fee)
YOUTH UNDER 40 YEARS AND BELOW: 50% + (50,000 admin fee)
The party stated further that there shall not be a separate fee for Vice-Chairman.
As part of its goal to carry everyone along, the form is free for physically challenged aspirants, but he/she shall pay an administrative fee of N50, 000 for Chairmanship and N5,000 for Councillorship aspirants respectively.
