Former Chairman of the Special Presidential Panel on Recovery of Public Property, Okoi Obono-Obla, has cautioned the All Progressives Congress (APC) against compelling aspirants to pay high nomination fees only to deny them fair participation in party primaries.

In a statement issued in Calabar, Obono-Obla warned that such practices could undermine internal democracy and discourage party members who invest heavily in seeking nominations.

He argued that political office should not be determined by the financial strength of party leaders, stressing that aspirants should not be required to pay between ₦10 million and ₦50 million for nomination forms without assurance of a transparent contest.

According to him, the credibility of the party depends on fairness and transparency in its primary elections, adding that credible processes would strengthen the APC and produce representatives with public confidence.

Obono-Obla also cited his experience during the 2023 election cycle, alleging that he sold a house he built in Calabar for ₦22 million to purchase a senatorial nomination form but was denied a fair opportunity in the primary.

He claimed the process was influenced by the selection of delegates loyal to certain interests within the party leadership in Cross River State.

The former presidential aide further alleged that some delegates received between ₦200,000 and ₦300,000 each on the day of the primary election in Ikom to influence their votes.

He urged the APC to ensure fairness, equity and transparency in its primaries ahead of the 2027 general elections, insisting that members should be allowed to freely choose candidates who represent their interests.