The National Rescue Movement (NRM) has filed a suit to prevent the upcoming Ogun State local government elections, contesting the imposition of a N250,000 fee for chairmanship candidates and N150,000 for male councillorship candidates, with female candidates charged N100,000.
In addition to challenging the fees, the NRM argues that the election timetable was imposed unilaterally by the Ogun State Independent Electoral Commission without prior notice or consultation with registered political parties and other stakeholders. According to the claimant, these actions violate due process and disregard essential engagement with parties.
The Chairman of the commission, Babatunde Osibodu, announced the fees for candidates, which the NRM considers exorbitant and unconstitutional. Upset by this development, the NRM took legal action, seeking a court order to declare the fees illegal. The case, marked AB/741/2024, lists the Ogun State Independent Electoral Commission and the Attorney General as first and second defendants, respectively.
The case was mentioned on Wednesday before Justice S.O. Adeniyi at the Ogun State High Court. NRM’s counsel, Adekola Adedeji, informed the court that all parties had been served and requested a date for the hearing.
The claimant asks the court to decide if the imposed charges infringe on the candidates’ rights to eligibility under the 1999 Constitution (as amended) and whether they conflict with the Nigerian Constitution and Ogun State Electoral Law, 2007, thus rendering the fees illegal and void.
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