Inter Party Advisory Council (IPAC) representing all registered political parties in Nigeria, has condemned the high fees placed on nomination forms by some State Independent Electoral Commissions (SIECs) as part of the requirements for participation in local government elections.

In a statement by the national chairman of IPAC, Yusuf Mamman Dantalle yesterday, he said this was in flagrant violation of the 1999 Constitution, as amended, the Electoral Act 2022 and subsisting judgements of the Supreme Court declaring the fees illegal and unconstitutional.

He said IPAC was aware of the attempt by anti-democratic forces to suffocate the nation's emerging democracy and the recent financial autonomy granted to local governments by the apex court in tandem with the Constitution to function effectively as the third tier of government.

The statement said, "Council is outraged by the Kaduna State Independent Electoral Commission's demand of ₦11 million for candidates vying for the office of chairman and ₦2.2 million for councillorship position in its scheduled 19th October 2024 local government election.

"Similarly, IPAC is appalled by the exorbitant nomination fee of ₦10 million for candidates contesting for chairmanship and ₦5 million for those running for councillorship offices by the Kano State Independent Electoral Commission (KANSIEC) for the 30th November 2024 local government polls in the state. Likewise, the Jigawa State Independent Electoral Commission (JISIEC) fixed ₦5 million as fee for nomination form for local government chairmanship and ₦2 million for councillorship candidates for the 5th October 2024 polls."

It said it was obvious that state governments do not want sustainable democracy and development in the third tier of government, as the outrageous fees send a strong signal to opposition parties and their candidates, and indeed all aspirants who cannot afford the fees and they are excluded in the elections as only wealthy candidates can afford such fees.