Lai Mohammed Decries High Cost of Elections, Seeks Urgent Reforms

Former Minister of Information and Culture, Lai Mohammed, has raised concerns over the rising cost of contesting elections in Nigeria, calling for urgent reforms to make the political process more inclusive.

Speaking at the London School of Economics and Political Science on Saturday, Mohammed described Nigeria’s political space as significantly more expensive than in many other countries, noting that the financial burden on aspirants remains a major barrier.

He cited the high fees attached to nomination and expression of interest forms for elective positions, explaining that presidential aspirants are required to pay a combined sum of N100 million, while governorship and senatorial aspirants pay N50 million and N20 million respectively.

According to him, the cost structure is largely driven by the way political parties are funded in Nigeria, as reliance on membership dues has proven ineffective.

He explained that parties often depend on proceeds from the sale of nomination forms to sustain their activities, especially during election cycles.

Despite the financial hurdles, Mohammed noted that young Nigerians are still finding their way into politics and making significant impact, stressing that opportunities exist for those who understand the system.

Reflecting on his time in office, the former minister said his priority was to strengthen communication between the government and citizens through innovative engagement strategies.

He added that initiatives such as thematic town hall meetings and ministerial scorecards were introduced to promote transparency, accountability, and feedback from the public on government policies and programmes.