By Charles Chijioke
Former Minister of Information and Culture, Lai Mohammed, has raised fresh concerns over the rising cost of contesting political office in Nigeria, warning that the financial burden threatens inclusivity and democratic participation ahead of the 2027 general elections.
Speaking at the London School of Economics and Political Science, Mohammed described Nigeria’s electoral process as significantly more expensive than what obtains in many other countries, stressing that urgent reforms are needed to make the system more accessible, particularly for young and emerging politicians.
“The field of politics in Nigeria is open for young and ambitious people. However, politics in Nigeria is more expensive than in other parts of the world. That is also a factor we must work at,” he said, referencing the recently released timetable for the 2027 elections by the ruling party.
He detailed the steep costs associated with seeking office, noting: “If you want to become president, you will pay N70m for the nomination form and N30m for the expression of interest form. That is N100m, which is £50,000. If you want to be a governor, the nomination form is N40m, while the expression of interest is N10m. That is about £25,000. If you want to be a senator, the nomination form is N17m while the expression of interest is N3m. That is about £10,000.”
According to Mohammed, the high fees are largely driven by the funding structure of political parties in Nigeria, which rely heavily on proceeds from nomination forms rather than steady membership dues. “So, it is a bit expensive even to enter into the race, and that is one area we need to work at. Yes, it is the only way the party makes money and develops the party; unlike in the UK or elsewhere, people don’t pay their membership dues, and we have no mechanism to ensure they pay. So, we wait for them. When it is time for elections, they come and buy form and then we make a lot of money to run the party,” he said.
Despite the barriers, Mohammed maintained that opportunities still exist for newcomers in Nigerian politics. “But really, I think there is a level playing field if you know the rules, and I said there are many young people who have no political antecedents who are today doing very well in Nigerian politics and government,” he added.
Reflecting on his tenure in government, Mohammed said his priorities included strengthening communication between the government and citizens. “My main priorities as minister of information and culture were to devise imaginative and innovative strategies to convey to Nigerians the programmes and the policies of the government. But more importantly, to get feedback from them. I realised that until you get feedback from the people, you are not going to really address their real issues,” he said.
He explained that initiatives such as themed town hall meetings and ministerial scorecards were deployed to foster engagement and accountability. “As much as speaking is good, you must also listen, and when you listen, you get the sentiments of the people,” he noted.
The remarks come amid growing scrutiny of the cost of politics in Nigeria, where critics argue that high nomination fees and campaign expenses limit participation to wealthy elites and entrenched political actors. Analysts warn that without reforms, the trend could discourage youth involvement, deepen inequality in political representation, and undermine public trust in the democratic process as the 2027 elections approach.
