Nigeria's main political parties are charging eye-watering fees from election hopefuls, in a move condemned as undemocratic and a breeding ground for high-level cronyism and corruption.
Supporters of President Goodluck Jonathan pooled their resources to stump up the $132,000 to buy his nomination form from the ruling People's Democratic Party (PDP).
The main opposition All Progressives Congress (APC) is asking for 27.5 million naira, forcing one prospective candidate, former military ruler Muhammadu Buhari, to take out a bank loan.
Candidates for parliamentary elections are also having to pay huge sums of cash, far outstripping the fees charged elsewhere in West Africa.
Political and legal analysts say the exorbitant rates in Nigeria are illegal, discourage popular participation in the electoral process and consolidate power among the wealthy elite.
"The incredible amount of money charged by political parties for nomination forms only reflects the dangerous connection between politics and big business and the disconnect it fosters on the silent majority," said Eneruvie Enakoko, formerly of the Transition Monitoring Group of non-profit organisations promoting democratic values.
High fees for nomination force aspiring candidates without huge financial means to raise money from super-rich backers, who will then expect pay-back if they are voted in, he added.
"If the candidate eventually gets the nomination and wins the election, he feels indebted and obligated to that tiny percentage of the population and his loyalty will be to those people and not to the rest of the populace or the silent majority who have no voice," he told AFP.
"It is a dangerous and vicious cycle because the candidate after getting elected cannot afford to forget where he got the money to bankroll his election.
Supporters of President Goodluck Jonathan pooled their resources to stump up the $132,000 to buy his nomination form from the ruling People's Democratic Party (PDP).
The main opposition All Progressives Congress (APC) is asking for 27.5 million naira, forcing one prospective candidate, former military ruler Muhammadu Buhari, to take out a bank loan.
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For governorship posts, the PDP is asking for 11 million naira while the APC wants 10 million naira -- all before anyone is even chosen to run at the elections next year.
Candidates for parliamentary elections are also having to pay huge sums of cash, far outstripping the fees charged elsewhere in West Africa.
Political and legal analysts say the exorbitant rates in Nigeria are illegal, discourage popular participation in the electoral process and consolidate power among the wealthy elite.
"The incredible amount of money charged by political parties for nomination forms only reflects the dangerous connection between politics and big business and the disconnect it fosters on the silent majority," said Eneruvie Enakoko, formerly of the Transition Monitoring Group of non-profit organisations promoting democratic values.
High fees for nomination force aspiring candidates without huge financial means to raise money from super-rich backers, who will then expect pay-back if they are voted in, he added.
"If the candidate eventually gets the nomination and wins the election, he feels indebted and obligated to that tiny percentage of the population and his loyalty will be to those people and not to the rest of the populace or the silent majority who have no voice," he told AFP.
"It is a dangerous and vicious cycle because the candidate after getting elected cannot afford to forget where he got the money to bankroll his election.