Youth Party Ask Court To Stop Taraba LG Election Over “Unconstitutional” Fees

The Youth Party (YP) has approached the High Court of Taraba State sitting in Jalingo, seeking to halt the conduct of the state's local government elections scheduled for November 15, 2025.

 

In a motion on notice, the party asked the court to restrain the Taraba State Independent Electoral Commission (TSIEC) and the Attorney General of the state from taking any further steps towards organizing the polls, pending the determination of the suit.

 

The suit, filed by Probitas Partners LLP on behalf of the Youth Party, challenges provisions in the 2025 election guidelines which impose what the party describes as "unconstitutional monetary and additional qualifications" on aspirants.

 

According to an affidavit deposed to by the Taraba State Chairman of the party, Hon. Felix Pascal Pulevo, TSIEC's guidelines require candidates to pay high non-refundable nomination fees—₦1 million for chairmanship aspirants, ₦500,000 for vice-chairmanship, and ₦150,000 for councillorship. Female aspirants are to pay reduced fees of ₦250,000 and ₦75,000 for vice-chairmanship and councillorship respectively.

 

The party argued that these conditions, alongside mandatory proof of three years' tax clearance, amount to additional qualifications not recognized by the Nigerian Constitution, and could disenfranchise its members.

 

"The claimant, along with its aspirants, intends to field candidates in the forthcoming elections but is unwilling and unable to comply with the unconstitutional monetary and additional conditions imposed by TSIEC," the affidavit read in part.