“Senate seat now costs ₦1.2bn” — Ali Baba

Veteran comedian and social commentator Ali Baba has sparked fresh debate over the cost of governance in Nigeria after revealing the exorbitant price tags associated with contesting political offices in the country.

Speaking during an episode of the OUTSIDE THE BOX podcast, Ali Baba, who is known for his deep connections within Nigeria’s political elite, alleged the staggering cost of contesting an office.

He claimed that securing a senatorial seat in Nigeria now costs around ₦1.2 billion, while a bid for the House of Representatives could require as much as ₦1 billion. For a governorship position, he disclosed, the cost ranges from ₦20 billion to ₦25 billion in states like Delta and Rivers.

According to him, the massive financial demands of running for office have turned politics into a high-stakes investment, driving the unending corruption that continues to plague the country.

The comedian explained that because of the high financial stakes, many political leaders enter office with a mindset focused not on governance or service delivery, but on recouping their investments, often through corrupt practices.

He lamented that leaders often sideline education, healthcare, and other public needs unless there’s a financial gain or electoral advantage involved.

“So it’s a capital-intensive project, which is what is driving the corruption in our country right now. Anytime somebody is in office, the person is not thinking of education, except if whatever he wants to do in education will provide some money that they can leverage on when the time for election comes,” he said.

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