By Iliya Kure
Kaduna (Nigeria) — Convention Peoples Party (CPP) says it opposes the GHS50, 000 demanded by the Electoral Commission (EC) from all presidential candidates, but has no plans of withdrawing from the December race.
Director Communications of the Party, Rauf Kadiri who stated this also added that comments by the CPP flag-bearer, Ivor Kobina Greenstreet that he may pull out of the presidential race in protest of the filing fee should to be taken lightly.
CPP candidate, Mr. Greenstreet had in a reaction to the new fees on a local radio station, Adom FM, said he was not prepared to pay the GHS50, 000 filing fee, adding if that means the party should forego the general election, they might do so.
Soon after the radio interview, Mr. Kadiri came out to correct the flag-bearer’s statement saying “When the flagbearer spoke about the party withdrawing he spoke on a lighter note. The position of the party to Ghanaians is that we will use every legitimate means to oppose it.”
On Thursday at the Inter-Party Advisory Committee (IPAC) meeting, the Electoral Commission had announced the new filing fees for presidential candidates, pegging it at GHS50, 000 and that of parliamentary candidates at GHS 10, 000.
The new fee of GHS50,000 represents a 500% increase from the GHS10,000 paid by presidential candidates in 2012, while the new fee of GHS10, 000 for parliamentary candidates represents a 1,000% increase from the 2012 fee of GHS1,000 paid by contestants.
The opposition parties, including main opposition, NPP have complained that the fee is too high.
The Progressive People’s Party (PPP) and the Democratic People’s Party (DPP) are also accusing the electoral umpire of plans to stamp out other political parties from contesting, leaving only the ruling National Democratic Congress (NDC) and the New Patriotic Party (NPP).