The Socio-Economic Rights and Accountability Project (SERAP) has called on all presidential candidates ahead of the 2023 presidential election to demonstrate leadership by instructing their “campaign councils and political parties to regularly and widely publish the sources of their campaign funding.”
In an open letter at the weekend, signed by SERAP deputy
director, Kolawole Oluwadare, the organisation disclosed that transparency
would help to curb inappropriate influence on political candidates, ensure
equality, fairness and accountability in the country’s democracy.
SERAP added that transparency in campaign funding would
enhance public trust in the country’s politicians and political parties and
show their commitment to prevent and combat corruption if elected.
The letter partly read: “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.
“Transparency in campaign funding would ensure fair and open
elections, and address concerns about undue influence by the more economically
advantaged and privileged individuals, as well as prevent corruption of the
electoral process.”
“The UN Convention against Corruption, to which Nigeria is a
state party, obligates states parties to enhance transparency in the funding of
candidates for elected public office and, where applicable, the funding of
political parties.”
The presidential candidates for Nigeria’s general elections
in 2023 include: Asiwaju Bola Tinubu of All Progressives Congress (APC); Alhaji
Atiku Abubakar of Peoples Democratic Party (PDP); Rabiu Musa Kwankwaso of New
Nigeria Peoples Party (NNPP); Peter Obi of Labour Party (LP) and Prof. Peter
Umeadi of All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA).
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