Ikokwu: End Paywall On Leadership, Let Competence Decide Candidates

Constance Ikokwu urges parties to cut nomination costs, saying high fees exclude women, youths and credible candidates from politics

Aspirant for Idemili North and South Federal Constituency on the platform of the African Democratic Congress (ADC), Dr. Chiogo Constance Ikokwu (Ugonecheora), has called on political parties in Nigeria to scrap or significantly reduce the cost of nomination forms, warning that high fees are shutting out competent candidates.

In a press release titled “End the Paywall on Leadership: Let Competence, Not Cash, Decide our Candidates,” Ikokwu said the current system limits political participation to wealthy individuals and undermines democratic inclusion.

She argued that the high cost of nomination forms has created barriers for women, young people and persons with disabilities (PWDs), preventing them from participating in the political process.

“Political parties, especially the African Democratic Congress (ADC) on whose platform I’m running, must take deliberate steps to eliminate or drastically reduce the cost of nomination forms. I also expect that women and PWDs are allowed to pay discounted fees, if indeed they must pay. If we are serious about deepening democracy, then access to contest should not be reserved for the wealthy or those backed by powerful financiers,” she stated.

Ikokwu stressed that leadership should not be determined by financial capacity but by competence, integrity and vision.

“Money politics has done deep damage to the quality of our representation, and the reasons are clear. It sidelines visionary candidates who have ideas, integrity, and a genuine desire to serve, but lack the financial muscle to compete. By removing these financial, and other barriers, parties will not only expand participation but also elevate the standard of leadership. Nigeria deserves leaders chosen for their competence and character, not the size of their wallets.”

The ADC aspirant also highlighted the broader impact of expensive nomination forms on Nigeria’s democratic space, noting that many qualified individuals are discouraged from contesting.

“As a journalist turned politician, I have seen firsthand how the exorbitant cost of party nomination forms discourages not just women, but also young people from even stepping forward. These fees are not a measure of competence or commitment, they are simply a financial gatekeeping tool that narrows our democratic space,” she declared.

Ikokwu maintained that reducing nomination fees would promote inclusiveness and improve the quality of leadership, insisting that Nigeria cannot achieve meaningful democratic progress while maintaining financial barriers to political participation.