I Did Not Beg To Pay N100m APC Nomination Form Fee, Says Tunde Bakare

A presidential aspirant and popular pastor, Tunde Bakare, says the fee for the nomination and expression of interest forms of the All Progressives Congress (APC) was transferred from his account.

He said this on Monday during an interview on Channels Television’s Politics Today – hours after he made an official declaration on his presidential bid at an event in Abuja.

“By the grace of God, we paid without having to borrow or beg,” said Bakare who is the Serving Overseer of The Citadel Global Community Church. “God Almighty, who had provided, is still providing and He will continue to provide.

“Money is the easy thing to trade; yes, by the grace of God, we paid. Don’t forget that there are so many people who are even willing to pay on our behalf and so many people will give towards it and have given towards it, but whatever was transferred to the party’s account came from my account.”

Bakare, a former vice presidential candidate, admitted that the cost of the party’s nomination and expression of interest forms was not cheap.

According to him, one would have thought that the APC forms will not cost beyond half of the price for which they have been fixed.

The politician, however, stated that the money paid was not lost as it was part of the necessary investment required for a party that needs resources to become a formidable force.

“Talking of the cost, there is a price to pay for everything,” he averred. “I was not part of the decision-making process, but if I’m going to apply for anything and they say this is the way to go about it, the price has to be paid – it is like going to a school or university; you pay a fee.

“Do I consider that fee or cost very cheap? Not at all; not in the least. Just as everything in life that is highly valued comes with a price, that was the price the party fixed and those who want to join will have to pay the same price, and it is not money thrown away; this is part of the investment in a party that needs resources to actually be a formidable party.”