Disturbed by the rising menace of vote buying, the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC and the International Foundation for Electoral Systems, IFES have called on stakeholders, particularly the Civil Society Organizations, CSOs and the Media to be actively involved in monitoring political parties finances during the campaigns for the forthcoming general elections.
This call was made Tuesday at the National Sensitization Conference on Campaign Finance and its Importance to the Electoral Process organised by INEC/IFES at Barcelona Hotel, Abuja.
Uloma Osuala, IFES Nigeria Chief of Party, in her opening remarks stated that regulation of campaign finance remains a key aspect of the electoral process and the establishment of campaign finance laws across the globe is to help ensure a level playing field for all political parties and candidates in the process.
Osuala said, ensuring level playing field in the electoral process means controlling the influence of money in election where outcome of polls are decided by the votes of the people rather than the deep pockets of political parties and candidates.
She observed that, over the years, majority of political parties have failed to comply with the rules that govern campaign finance and all this have continued to impede the conduct of credible polls as a level playing ground cannot be provided.
“Therefore, this conference is imperative to sensitize stakeholders about the legal framework that relates to issues of campaign finance. This important event also provides a platform for INEC to discuss its efforts so far in carrying out its oversight responsibilities on campaign finance and identify areas of collaboration with relevant stakeholders to ensure improved compliance.
“IFES over the years and leading up to the 2019 general elections continues to support INEC and thr relevant departments (EMP) in building its capacity to ensure effective campaign finance oversight of political parties through training of INEC staff, CSOs and political parties, reviewing of the INEC political finance handbook, manual, the reporting forms as well as raising awareness around the issue”, Osuala said.
Mahmood Yakubu, INEC Chairman in an address urged political parties to report their campaign financing in line with stipulated guidelines of the electoral act, noting that monitoring political parties finances is one of the key oversight functions of the Commission.
Yakubu who was represented by Anthonia Simbine, INEC National Commissioner in charge of Elections and Party Monitoring described the conference as an opportunity for stakeholders for promoting transparency in the campaign financing of political parties, saying a transparent political campaign facilitates free, fair and credible elections.
James Kwen, Abuja
