Veteran Nigerian comedian and social commentator, Ali Baba, has ignited a fresh discussion on the pervasive issue of corruption within the nation's political landscape by publicly outlining what he claims are the hefty price tags associated with securing various political offices. Speaking on the OUTSIDE THE BOX podcast, Ali Baba, known for his close ties to Nigerian politicians, described the country's political system as a "capital intensive project" that fuels corruption.

Allegations of Astronomical Costs for Political Offices

According to Ali Baba's disclosure, the cost of winning a senatorial seat in Nigeria has reportedly soared to approximately N1.2 billion. Securing a seat in the House of Representatives is said to demand a similar sum, around N1 billion. For positions in the State House of Assembly, the alleged price tag is N500 million.

The cost for governorship, he suggested, varies significantly by state. For states like Delta, he claimed it could require about N20 billion, while Rivers State might demand as much as N25 billion. In some Northern states, he estimated the cost to be in the range of N4 to N6 billion.

"To win the senatorial seat is now between N1.2bn. you need N1 or 2bn to win a Senate seat. To win a house of Rep, you need another 1billion," Ali Baba stated during the interview. "State House of Assembly you need N500 million. Governorship depends on the state. For Delta State you need like about N20bn, for Rivers you need a 25 billion. For some of those states in the North maybe 4 or 5 or 6 billion naira."

Corruption Driven by Election Costs

Ali Baba further asserted that these exorbitant costs are the primary engine driving corruption in Nigeria. He painted a picture of political leaders who, once in office, allegedly prioritize projects that can generate funds for future election campaigns, rather than genuinely addressing the needs of the populace.

"So it’s a capital intensive project, which is what is driving the corruption in our country right now," he explained. "So 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."

Ali Baba's comments underscore a long-standing public perception in Nigeria about the financial barriers to political entry and the subsequent pressure on elected officials to recoup their 'investments,' often at the expense of public service. His insights, coming from someone with direct connections within the political sphere, are likely to fuel further debate on campaign finance reform and accountability in Nigerian governance.