Taraba LG Election: APC Threatens Legal Action Over Exorbitant Nomination & Tax Fees

The Taraba State chapter of the All Progressives Congress (APC) has issued a strong warning of a potential legal challenge against the Taraba State Independent Electoral Commission (TSIEC), citing what it describes as unconstitutional and exorbitant nomination fees for the upcoming local government elections. The party argues that the fee structure is a deliberate attempt to discourage opposition and limit democratic participation.

During a recent press briefing in Jalingo, APC State Chairman, Ibrahim Tukur El-Sudi, expressed sharp criticism of TSIEC’s financial demands. According to the commission’s directives, a non-refundable fee of N1 million is required from chairmanship aspirants, with vice-chairmanship aspirants charged N500,000. For councillorship seats, male candidates are to pay N150,000, while female candidates are required to pay N75,000. A reduced fee of N250,000 is set for female chairmanship candidates, and N125,000 for female vice-chairmanship candidates.

El-Sudi emphatically condemned the charges, branding them a violation of democratic principles. He stated, “The constitution does not mandate any fees to be paid to INEC, and by extension, state electoral commissions have no legal grounds to impose such charges. This is a ploy to frustrate political parties, especially in a time of economic hardship.”

The APC chairman also extended his criticism to the Taraba State Board of Internal Revenue, calling its “outrageous” tax clearance fees of N1 million for chairmanship aspirants and N500,000 for councillorship aspirants “excessive and unreasonable.” He called for an immediate reduction of these fees to ensure fairness and inclusivity in the electoral process.

Despite these significant concerns, El-Sudi confirmed that the APC has successfully concluded its primaries across all sixteen councils in the state and is fully prepared to contest the November elections. He reiterated the party’s commitment to a credible, free, and fair local government election, but warned that if the electoral body fails to address these concerns, it could face serious legal repercussions.