Party finances

THE NATION NIGERIA

•INEC should step up monitoring as well as enforce the law

In a season when public attention is being called to the corruption of institutions and processes of state administration, it has become inescapable that the searchlight be beamed on the political parties and the perversion of processes that have been the order of the day in running them. This is so important because the parties, under the 1999 Constitution, are public bodies. They are registered and expected to file returns periodically.

Political parties are at the heart of democracy. When they fail to meet the minimum demands on transparency in their activities, or are held to ransom by individuals, the state is in trouble. One of the ways the political parties have failed to live up to their constitutional responsibilities is in ensuring that election campaigns are run according to the rules, funds raised in accordance with stipulations by the Constitution and the Electoral Act and proper returns made to the electoral commission.

There are elaborate provisions in the relevant laws to rein in the parties. Sections 225 and 226 of the constitution stipulate how this must be done. All records are expected to be adequately kept and submitted annually to INEC that also has the responsibility of filing such returns with the National Assembly. The constitution further stipulates that such annual statements of account should be published in national newspapers. The elaborate provisions underscore the importance attached to probity and transparency in running the political parties that act as nurseries for raising national leaders.

The Electoral Act complements these constitutional imperatives. Section 90 places limitations on the financial contributions that individuals may make to a political party. By virtue of section 91, no presidential candidate could raise or spend more than N1 billion for election campaign. For the governorship election, it is N200 million; N40 million for senatorial election, N20 million for House of Representatives and N10 million for a House of Assembly candidate. Similarly, the limit placed on campaign for the Local Government Area seat is N10 million, while a councillorship candidate may not spend more than N1 million.

The candidates and political parties have argued that the limits are ridiculous and unrealistic. This may be so in view of the size of the constituencies, demands of the presidential system of government and the highly monetised operational environment. But, it is no excuse for flagrant disregard of the law. Where a law is deemed unrealistic, the solution is to push for an amendment. In any case, the question to ask is where were the political parties when the constitution and Electoral Act were being made or amended? The National Assembly is exclusively made up of active politicians who belong to the parties. At what point did they, therefore, realise that it is unrealistic?

We are surprised that the electoral commission has abandoned its duty in respect of curbing excesses of the political parties with respect to their funding. The law forbids any individual contributing more than one million Naira to a political party. It also frowns at contributions from abroad and financing through private companies and corporations. Section 93 of the Act forbids anonymous contributions. No political party has adhered to these provisions. Yet, there is an electoral commission empowered to monitor the finances, keep records, file returns and prosecute offenders.

In the build-up to the next general election, we call on all stakeholders to scrupulously scrutinise the extant laws and recommend necessary amendments. The electoral commission must begin to apply laws and regulations. When political parties are held to account, they will realise the need to act in accordance with the principles and philosophy of the democratic order. The current state of things in the country stems from disregard for law and order by the political parties. It is time to rein them in.