The Labour Party (LP) in Ebonyi State has accused the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) of monetising grassroots democracy following allegations that the party is selling nomination and expression of interest forms for local government chairmanship positions at ₦30 million ahead of the August 2026 local government elections in the state.
The LP described the alleged development as outrageous, criminal and anti-democratic, warning that such exorbitant fees would shut out credible but less-privileged citizens from participating in grassroots governance.
The party’s condemnation was made public during a state stakeholders’ meeting held at the Labour Party secretariat in Ishieke, along the Abakaliki–Enugu Expressway.
Speaking at the meeting, the State Secretary of the Labour Party, Comrade Innocent Igiri, said the alleged sale of the forms was a clear reflection of the deep-seated corruption plaguing Nigeria’s political system.
“At a time when Nigerians are hungry and suffering, a political party that claims it wants to govern is charging ₦30 million just for a local government chairmanship form. That is outrageous and unacceptable. It is criminal,” Igiri said.
He called on relevant authorities and anti-graft agencies to immediately investigate the leadership of the APC in Ebonyi State over the matter, stressing that democracy can only thrive when leadership positions are accessible to competent individuals, not just the wealthy.
“How do you expect capable people without money to participate? How do you expect the poor man to contest elections? This kind of politics is deliberately designed to stifle Nigerians and exclude the masses from governance,” he added.
Also speaking at the event, the Ebonyi State Chairman of the Labour Party, Chief Henry Udeh (AjimBest), assured party members and the general public that the LP would not engage in what he described as “broad daylight robbery” through the sale of exorbitantly priced nomination forms.
“Our nomination forms will reflect the ideology of the Labour Party. We will not sell forms at ridiculous prices. If possible, our forms will be free so that the people can choose their leaders, not money choosing leaders,” Udeh stated.
Earlier, the Labour Party’s 2023 governorship candidate in Ebonyi State, Comrade Splendor Oko-Eze, disclosed that the party was intensifying efforts to strengthen its grassroots structures across the state’s 13 local government areas in preparation for upcoming congresses and future elections.
He dismissed claims that the Labour Party and the Obedient Movement were weak or irrelevant in Ebonyi State, insisting that the party remained a formidable opposition force capable of replicating and even surpassing its performance in the 2023 general elections come 2027.
The stakeholders’ meeting also witnessed the reception of 10 new members drawn from various local government areas of the state, a development party leaders described as further evidence of the party’s growing popularity in Ebonyi State.
Labour Party leaders at the gathering reaffirmed their commitment to transparent politics, people-oriented leadership and the promotion of good governance at the grassroots level.
