Governor Yahaya Bello of Kogi State has paid the required N100 million for the expression of interest and nomination forms of the All Progressives Congress (APC) to contest the 2023 presidential election.
The payment, according to the Director (Media and Publicity), Yahaya Bello Presidential Campaign Council, Yemi Kolapo, had made him the first to officially seal his aspiration to the office of the President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria in 2023.
With the payment, Kolapo said the governor would on Wednesday, April 27, 2022, pick his expression of interest and nomination forms.
Read Also: Gov Yahaya Bello Officially Joins 2023 Presidential Race
She expressed that the governor made the payment on Tuesday morning in a bid to show his seriousness to Nigerians on his quest to emerge as the candidate of the ruling party.
Kolapo recalled that thousands of Nigerians from all walks of life had stormed the Eagle Square in the nation’s capital, on Saturday, April 2, 2022, to witness the official acceptance of Governor Bello to vie for the 2023 Presidency.
The venue of the declaration was filled to the brim while an almost equal crowd was seen outside the venue, with many support groups clad in different distinct attires, chanting solidarity songs.
Recall that Bello had formally declared his intention to run for president on April 2 at Eagle Square in Abuja.
While declaring his interest to contest, Bello promised to create 20 million millionaires, if elected.
The governor will complete his second term in 2024.
Read Also: Ruling Party, APC Pegs 2023 Presidential Form At N100million, Governorship N50million
It will be recalled that National Working Committee (NWC) of the party had released a new date for the sales of forms, after failing to meet up with the initial date set by National Executive Council (NEC). The date was shifted from April 23 to April 26.
NEC also set N100 million as the cost of its presidential nomination and expression of interest forms. The price for the forms has been heavily criticised.
This paper had reported how the exorbitant nomination and expression of interest forms of the party will contribute to high level of corruption in Nigeria, despite the change mantra of the APC ruling party
Meanwhile, there are other presidential aspirants with whom Bello would contend for the APC ticket.
They include a former governor of Lagos State, Bola Tinubu, Vice President Yemi Osinbajo, Minister of Transportation, Rotimi Amaechi, Minister of Labour and Employment, Chris Ngige and Governor Dave Umahi of Ebonyi State.
