The Minority Leader of the House of Representatives, Mr Kingsley Chinda, has bemoaned the monetisation of political parties’ nominations as the most corrupt phase in the country’s electoral process.

Chinda stated this on Tuesday in Abuja while delivering the keynote address at the public presentation and stakeholder engagement on the Cost of Politics and Political Inclusion Report, organised by the Westminster Foundation for Democracy.

He said, “The monetisation of party nominations is arguably the most corrupt phase of our electoral process. We must ask ourselves the difficult question: must party nomination forms cost millions of naira? What exactly are we pricing?”

The Rivers lawmaker called for reforms aimed at promoting internal democracy within political parties as well as reducing financial barriers to political participation.

He also recommended the adoption of digital voting systems for party primaries, transparent delegate selection processes, and clear caps on internal campaign spending.

“We already have laws; what we lack is enforcement,” he added, noting that despite the Electoral Act prescribing spending limits for candidates and parties, ranging between N70m and N100m, the regulations are routinely breached without consequences.

To address this, the lawmaker called for the establishment of an independent Electoral Offences Commission.

This is just as he proposed: a real-time tracking of campaign expenditures, compulsory public declarations of campaign funding sources, and enforceable penalties, including barring defaulters from contesting elective positions for a defined period.

“Moving beyond paper compliance is critical,” Chinda said, adding that reforms to curb the high cost of politics are necessary to expand political participation and strengthen democracy in Nigeria.

In his opening remarks, the Country Director of the Westminster Foundation for Democracy, Adebowale Olorunmola, condemned the rising cost of electioneering in Nigeria, describing it as a major threat to the country’s democracy and inclusiveness.

“Our democracy thrives when diverse voices are heard, but the high cost of politics in Nigeria is silencing too many people,” he declared.

According to him, the new report by WFD offers critical insights into how financial barriers are undermining political participation and representation, particularly for women.

He added that beyond highlighting the challenges, the report is designed to trigger urgent conversations and concrete actions aimed at reducing the monetary obstacles that discourage ordinary Nigerians from engaging in politics.

Olorunmola urged all stakeholders to approach the conversation with open minds and a shared commitment to building a political system that truly reflects the voices and aspirations of every Nigerian.

“Together, we can shape a political landscape where everyone—regardless of gender or background—has a fair chance to participate,” he stated.