APC nomination forms not exorbitant -- Lagos aspirant

A governorship aspirant of the All Progressives Congress, APC, in Lagos State, Leke Pitan, says the fee charged for party nomination form is not exorbitant and is needed to fund the party.

Mr. Pitan said this on Sunday in Lagos that fees paid by aspirants would not in any way encourage corruption.

Governorship aspirants in the APC paid N500,000 for expression of interest forms and N5 million for nomination forms.

Mr. Pitan said that the party initially proposed a fee of N10 million but this was later reviewed downwards to N5 million.

“The aim is to help fund the party, which to my mind is necessary, there is need to help fund the party.

“Unless we want to deceive ourselves, electioneering needs funds, the party itself needs funds.

“We have moved away from the old era where party aspirants actually give money to the members.

“It hardly happens now, though you still have some who still do that, but it is not that widespread.

“The party needs all the help we can give it to raise money,” he said.

Mr. Pitan, a medical doctor, said he would continue to use his influence to bring free or affordable modern health services to every nook and cranny of the state.

He noted that since an unhealthy citizenry could not be optimally productive, every responsive government should take the sector seriously.

He said that Lagos State had succeeded in bringing health services to the doorsteps of its teeming population in recent years by building hospitals at all levels and by providing free services.