Political parties in Nigeria must reform their internal financing structures if the country is serious about fighting corruption and deepening democracy, Barrister Chikwe Nkemnacho, a gubernatorial aspirant of the National Democratic Congress, NDC, in Delta State, has said.
In a statement sent to Truth Live News, the Delta born legal practitioner questioned the growing commercialization of Nigeria’s electoral process, particularly the high cost of expression of interest and nomination forms demanded by political parties from aspirants seeking elective offices.
According to Barrister Chikwe, the monetization of politics has gradually created an unfair system where only the wealthy, politically connected, or heavily sponsored individuals can comfortably participate in the democratic process.
“The danger of this system is obvious,” he stated. “When candidates spend enormous amounts purchasing forms and financing campaigns, politics becomes an investment business rather than public service. Many politicians who eventually gain office begin to see government positions as opportunities to recover their expenses and reward sponsors. This cycle fuels bribery, contract inflation, embezzlement, patronage politics, and institutional corruption.”
The legal practitioner particularly referenced growing public concerns surrounding reform based politics and whether politicians who campaign on transparency and accountability can truly deliver change while operating within what many Nigerians describe as an expensive and exclusionary political structure.
Barrister Chikwe noted that former Labour Party presidential candidate, Peter Obi, has continued to attract public scrutiny because of his reputation as a reform minded leader whose political philosophy is built around prudence, accountability, and anti corruption ideals.
“For a politician like Peter Obi, whose public image is strongly tied to prudence, accountability, and anti corruption ideals, Nigerians naturally expect a different model,” he said.
He argued that while political parties require funding for administration, mobilization, legal obligations, and campaign activities, genuine reform movements must be willing to adopt a different political financing culture capable of giving ordinary Nigerians equal opportunities to participate.
According to him, many Nigerians supported reform driven politicians because they believed such leaders represented ethical leadership and a departure from traditional political practices.
Barrister Chikwe however maintained that the issue goes beyond one individual or political party, stressing that Nigeria must decide whether democracy should remain accessible only to the highest bidders or become a truly inclusive system open to credible citizens irrespective of financial strength.
He proposed several reforms including reduction or elimination of excessive nomination fees, transparent party financing, public disclosure of party accounts, membership based fundraising systems, equal opportunities for credible aspirants, and stronger internal democracy within political parties.
He added that anti corruption credibility would carry greater moral weight when political parties begin to practice the principles they publicly preach before seeking power at the national level.
The statement was signed by Barrister Chikwe Nkemnacho, gubernatorial aspirant of the National Democratic Congress, NDC, Delta State.
