2019 elections: INEC to monitor money spent by politicians

In order to ensure financial prudence and make sure every political party play by the rule, the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has inaugurated an inter-agency campaign finance-monitoring group for the 2019 general elections.

A National Commissioner, Antonia Okosi-Simbine, who inaugurated the committee on behalf of the Chairman of the Commission, revealed that the group will work with the commission’s election and party finance monitoring department.

Members of the new group include the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), Financial Intelligence Unit (FIU), the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN), National Broadcasting Commission (NBC), Nigeria Communication Commission (NCC) and Centre for Social Justice (CSJ).

Others are the Nigeria Police Force (NPF), Federal Inland Revenue Service (FIRS), Independent Corrupt Practices and other related offences Commission (ICPC), National Broadcasting Commission (NBC), and the Nigerian Press Council (NPC).

Also, the 10-member group will monitor the source of funding and spending of all the candidates and political parties to ensure they do not exceed the approved ceiling.

The group’s duties are hinged on the Constitution of Nigeria, the Electoral Act 2010 (as amended), Companies and Allied Matters Act (CAMA1990 as amended), Political Party Finance Manual 2017 and Guidelines and Regulations for Political Parties 2015, which variously empower the commission to track and report political parties’ campaign finance.

The group will be headed by Eze Onyekpere of the Centre for Social Justice.

It is expected to submit its report after six months.

The commission said the tracking of campaign financing is expected to end on the date for both the presidential and governorship election.

Section 91 of the electoral Act stipulates a maximum of N1 billion for presidential candidate, while Candidates for governorship seat cannot go beyond N200 million threshold for their campaign.

The maximum amount allowed for Senate and House of Representatives is N40 million and N20 million respectively.

Also the Act stipulates that individuals cannot donate more than N1 million to any candidate.

More so political party that incurs election expenses beyond the limit stipulated in this Act commits an offence and is liable on conviction to a maximum fine of N1 million and forfeiture to the commission of the amount by which the expenses exceed the limit set by the commission.

Likewise, the Electoral Act 2010, as amended, also stipulates N1 million fine or imprisonment for a term of 12 months or both as punishment for any individual that contravened the Act for the presidential expenses; N600,000 for the senatorial election while for House of Representatives, N500,000 or imprisonment.

For the governorship, it is N800, 000.00 or imprisonment of nine months or both.

Meanwhile, INEC said it hopes to release the report of the 2019 campaign finances immediately after the election.

“We will check newspapers advertisements, TV, Radio, billboard and we must see to the conclusion. Those who spent beyond what the legal framework provided for or spent outrageously will have themselves to blame,” the official said.

“Those reports must be published after the election. Unlike what happened in the past, six months will be late for the report. We will ensure compliance with the electoral act.”

Also speaking at the event, an assistant director, Campaign Finance Tracking Unit, Ishaq Aliyu, said they recorded a milestone in the 2015 campaign finance tracking but there is need to do more during the 2019 election.

“We have built the capacity of the staff. They review the tracking forms to include separate forms for candidates and political parties. The tracking ends on the day of the election,” Mr Aliyu said.