Despite paying N27.5 million for the expression of interest and nomination forms , former military Head of State, Major General Muhammadu Buhari (rtd) has accused his party the All Progressives Congress of disenfranchising some party members who might have wanted to contest for the presidency due to the high cost of the forms.
He said this on Thursday while picking up the form at the APC National Secretariat, in the presence of former minister of Federal Capital Territory, Malam Nasir El- Rufai and Timipre Sylva, the former Governor of Bayelsa State, who accompanied him.
However, in the defence of the All Progressive Congress (APC), the national chairman of the party, Chief John Odigie-Oyegun, said the party decided on the high fees to separate the men from the boys.
Buhari lamented that he could not influence the N27.5 million price of the form.
Buhari regretted that he could not influence the party to reduce the price of the forms so that all party members who so desire could partake in the selection process.
“It’s a pity I couldn’t influence this amount to be put down as in the case of ladies and the disable that intend to participate. I always look left and right in our meetings but I could not read sympathy, so I kept my trap, “he said.
“N27 million is a big sum, thankfully I have personal relationship with the manager of my bank in Kaduna and I told him that very soon the forms are coming, so, whether I am on red, or green or even black please honour it otherwise I may lose the nomination”, he added.
“But I felt heavily sorry for myself because I do not want to go and ask somebody to pay for my nomination form because I always try to pay myself, at least for the nomination, ”he bemoaned