SERAP Tasks Presidential Candidate on Accountability
The Socio-Economic Rights and Accountability Project, SERAP has asked all the political parties presidential candidates to make public the source of their campaign financing.
In a statement, SERAP’s Deputy Director, Kolawole Oluwadere, says he is worried about the non-availability of their campaign funding which exposes some of the candidates to corrupt tendencies.
“We are concerned about the vulnerability of political parties to corruption. Disproportionally large donations seeking specific outcomes or preferential treatment can subvert the wider public interest”.
SERAP notes that allowing Nigerians to know the source of financing would help them hold any candidate and political party involved accountable
”SERAP would consider appropriate legal actions to hold you and your political party to account for any infractions of the requirements of campaign funding, as provided for by the Nigerian Constitution 1999 [as amended], the Electoral Act and international standards, even after the 2023 elections”.
“SERAP urges you to sign ‘transparency pacts’ that would mandate you to disclose the identities of donors and widely publish donations and contributions including on your party website and social media platforms.”
“Opacity in campaign funding can distort the electoral competition and lead to state capture by wealthy politicians and individuals, and encourage politicians to divert public resources for political purposes.” The statement reads.
SERAP advises INEC, ICPC and EFCC to monitor campaign funding and expenditures by your political party in line with the UN Convention against corruption to which the country subscribed to.
