APC Chieftain, Senator Ken Nnamani, Slams Party Over N100m Presidential Forms, Declares Interest

By Gideon Njoku

Political watchers say Senator Nnamani’s entry is not expected to make any impact on an already crowded field, especially, given his age.

A former Senate President, Ken Nnamani has criticised his Political Party, the All Progressives Congress, APC, for its price tag on the 2023 Presidential forms.

Nnamani, 73 years old, while declaring interest in running for the seat of the President said: “My view is that we should work towards reducing the cost of nomination for political offices so that we can create an inclusive environment for our dynamic youths and women who may not have access to much wealth but have a great intellect and public spirit to enter into public service through political recruitment.

“I hold the view that high costs of election are not aligned to our socio-economic realities in terms of comparative per capital income and purchasing power of Nigerians.

“But ultimately, the pressure for drastic reduction in nomination fees for public offices will come when citizens and citizens group begin to play more active role in demanding and presenting credible and capable persons for elective  offices rather than allow money bags force themselves into such offices.

“I believe that the nomination fees that parties ask aspirants to pay for elective offices in Nigeria need rethinking in order to improve the inclusion of youths, women and most Nigerians who earn salaries in an economy that has become distressed, largely on account of global economic meltdown and domestic insecurity and low productivity.”

Nnamani said he would back the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, to lay guidelines for the parties to regulate the cost of  nomination and campaign expenses.

He, nevertheless, said he would pay the N100m for the purchase of the forms.

On why he is entering the race, he said it was time to deliver hope and prosperity to Nigeria in the “midst of despair and poverty.”

His words:  “A few days ago, I expressed the intention to join the contest for the APC 2023 Presidential Primary. Now, I give firm declaration that I will purchase the nomination forms in a couple of days.

“I am aspiring to be President in 2023 because I believe that at this period of grave crisis, Nigeria needs to be reinvented to be a modern, democratic state that prioritizes the socio-economic wellbeing of its citizens; to be restructured from inefficient consumption to production; and to be led with integrity and compassion.

“I, also, believe that every period in the history of a country requires a particular kind of leader. Nigeria faces very tough challenges now more than ever.

“In 2015, we needed a Buhari to take Nigeria away from the misdirection of the Peoples Democratic Party. In 2023, we need a leader who knows how to work across the divides and lead a coalition for competent and dedicated Nigeria to lay foundations for social stability and prosperity.

“My pedigree and previous accomplishments in high office in Nigeria lend credence to the fact that I am a good fit to the challenges of this moment in Nigerian history.”

Nnamani was Senate President during the President Olusegun Obasanjo Government when the South-east which turn it was to produce the Senate President kept changing the occupant of the office as if it was changing its underwears – Senators Evan Enwerem, Chuba Okadigbo Adolf Wabara, Anyim Pius Anyim, Nnamani.

He was, also, the Senate President when Obasanjo’s bid for a third term in office was thrown out by the Senate.

Until the recent past, Nnamani, from Enugu State, was a member of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP before he decamped to the APC under which he is aspiring to the office of the President.

Senator Nnamani is not expected, according to political watchers, to make any impact on his aspiration in a field already crowded by younger and better placed aspirants in both the APC and PDP.