Monitor campaign spending (now), watch out for moneybags who want to rig themselves into power, the say
By Jeph Ajobaju, Chief Copy Editor
Moneybags who buy votes, steal elections, and go on to loot the treasury are still out there, but anti-graft agencies can move fast by monitoring campaign spending right now and block the crooks, civil society organisations (CSOs) have advocated.
Initiative for Research, Innovation and Advocacy in Development (IRIAD) and Electoral Hub (EH) urged both the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) and Independent Corrupt Practices and other related Offences Commission (ICPC) to track spending by politicians now on the hustings.
IRIAD and EH asked candidates to focus on policy-based electioneering centred on pressing issues and anti-graft agencies to arrest and prosecute all electoral offenders.
A statement issued by the forum, signed by its Director, Princess Hamman-Obels, stressed the need for inclusive campaigns, the hallmark of democracy.
She argued the inclusion of women, youths, and Persons With Disabilities (PWDs) in the process would deepen democracy and ensure political parties tap into these electoral bases.
“The INEC … guideline for political rallies and campaigns by political parties, candidates and their supporters provides, among other things, the distinction between political rallies and political campaigns, procedure for conducting political campaigns, conduct not permissible during political campaigns, period of political campaigns, the procedure for conducting political rallies, conduct not permissible during political rallies, target audience, etc.
“This guideline should be of top consideration by political parties and candidates in the manner they go about in their campaigns as this regulation has the binding effect of law and must be followed,” she said.
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Focus on issues
“Furthermore, Section 95(2) of the Electoral Act 2022 stipulates that state apparatus, including the media, shall not be employed to the advantage or disadvantage of any political party of a candidate at any election
“The Nigerian political scene is coming of age and should reflect the same in character and process of campaigns, particularly considering the ethnic and religious fault lines in our country,” Hamman-Obels added, per The Guardian.
“As the campaign begins, we call on political parties and candidates to jettison mudslinging and ethno-religious campaigns and focus on issues critical to our common patrimony.
“Section 97 of the Electoral Act stipulates that anybody or association that engages in campaigning or broadcast based on religion, tribal or sectional reasons for the purpose of promoting or opposing a particular candidate or party commits an offence and is liable to conviction.
Prosecution of electoral offenders
“During this campaign period, The Electoral Hub calls on the candidates and political parties to comply with all legal provisions in relation to campaigns
“The EFCC and ICPC should be fully involved in the campaigning period. EFCC and ICPC should effectively monitor and track campaign spending. Police, EFCC and ICPC should arrest and prosecute electoral offenders.
“The National Human Right Commission (NHRC) should monitor, track and sanction human rights violations.
“The National Broadcasting Corporation (NBC) should monitor adverts and hate speech and provide necessary sanctions where necessary.
“The banks should track illicit funds and report them appropriately to the Nigeria Financial Intelligence Unit (NFIU).”