Former Minister of Information and Culture, Lai Mohammed, has criticised the exorbitant cost of contesting political office in Nigeria, describing it as a major barrier to quality leadership and democratic participation.
Speaking at an event at the London School of Economics and Political Science (LSE) on Saturday, Mohammed said the cost of participating in politics in Nigeria is far higher than in many other countries.
He stressed that the current electoral process requires urgent and comprehensive reforms to make it more accessible, transparent, and less financially burdensome for genuine aspirants.
Mohammed noted that the huge financial demands discourage competent individuals from running for office while encouraging only those with deep pockets or access to illicit funds.
The former minister advocated for reforms that would reduce campaign expenses, strengthen regulatory oversight by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), and promote internal party democracy to lower the overall cost of elections.
His remarks come amid growing national discourse on the need to reform Nigeria’s electoral system ahead of the 2027 general elections, with many stakeholders highlighting money politics as a threat to good governance.
This is the latest in a series of public engagements by Mohammed in the UK.
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