Exorbitant Nomination Fees: Court Reserves Judgment in Lawyer’s Suit Against INEC, 19 Parties

By Correspondent in Abuja.
The Federal High Court in Abuja on Wednesday fixed March 25 for judgment in a suit filed by a lawyer, Ejime Okolie, challenging the alleged imposition of exorbitant expression of interest (EoI) and nomination fees by political parties ahead of elections.

Justice Binta Nyako adjourned the matter for judgment after Okolie and counsel to the respondents adopted their respective processes and presented arguments for and against the suit.

Okolie instituted the action against the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), the Attorney-General of the Federation (AGF), and 19 political parties, including the All Progressives Congress (APC), Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Labour Party (LP), African Democratic Congress (ADC), All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA)

Others are Young Progressive Party (YPP), Accord, Zenith Labour Party (ZLP), Action People’s Party (APP), and National Rescue Movement (NRM), among others.

Suing for himself and on behalf of millions of Nigerians desirous of participating in the electoral process, Okolie is seeking to restrain political parties from imposing what he described as outrageous fees for expression of interest and nomination forms.

He urged the court to direct INEC to issue binding guidelines regulating reasonable maximum thresholds for such fees.

He also prayed the court to restrain the parties from fixing or enforcing any EoI or nomination fees for the 2027 general election primaries that would have the effect of excluding qualified Nigerians from contesting.

In addition, he sought an order that any reliefs granted should operate prospectively to safeguard constitutional rights ahead of future elections.

When the matter was called, there was no legal representation for the APC, PDP, LP and some other parties. However, the ADC, APGA, YPP, Accord, ZLP, APP, NRM, INEC and the AGF were represented by counsel.

Moving his application for the enforcement of fundamental rights, Okolie argued that the imposition of excessive fees violated his rights to freedom of association and freedom from discrimination as guaranteed under Sections 40 and 42 of the 1999 Constitution (as amended).

After adopting all his processes, he urged the court to grant the reliefs sought.
Counsel to the ADC, APGA, YPP, Accord, ZLP, APP, NRM and INEC, however, asked the court to dismiss the suit for lacking merit.

Accord, ZLP and INEC, in separate preliminary objections, contended that Okolie lacked the locus standi (legal standing) to institute the suit.

They also challenged the jurisdiction of the court, arguing that the issues raised bordered on the internal affairs of political parties.
Counsel to the AGF did not file any processes in response to the suit.

After listening to the submissions, Justice Nyako adjourned the matter until March 25 for judgment.

In the suit marked FHC/ABJ/CS/04/2026 and filed on Jan. 5, Okolie is seeking, among other reliefs, a declaration that the fixation and enforcement of exorbitant nomination fees ahead of the 2023 general elections excluded many qualified Nigerians, including himself, from participating in party primaries.

He argued that the financial barriers imposed by the parties disproportionately shut out ordinary citizens from political participation, amounting to discrimination contrary to Section 42 of the Constitution.
Edited by Dada Ahmed.
Edited by Dada Ahmed