2023: INEC warns parties on donations exceeding N50m

The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has warned individuals, political parties or candidates not to contribute or accept beyond N50million in donations for the 2023 general elections.

This is contained in the guidelines for the conduct of political rallies, processions and campaigns, as well as finances and election expenses of political parties, candidates and aspirants for the 2023 general elections released on Friday in Abuja by the commission.

“The maximum amount of money or other assets that an individual, group of individuals or an entity can donate to a political party or aspirant for an election shall be N50million. A political party shall not accept any monetary or other contribution, which is more than N50,000,000, except it identifies and discloses the source of the contribution to the commission.

“Contribution to candidates by an individual or entity shall be from 150 days allowed for campaigns to the election day. Contribution to aspirants by an individual or entity shall be from the date the notice of the election is published, to the conclusion of party primaries,” the commission stated.

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The document also stated that election expenses of a political party mean all expenses in cash or otherwise incurred by a political party or candidates, as well as party primary expenses of aspirants from the date notice of election, is published to the day of election only.

It stated, “They exclude expenses incurred before the publication of notice of election. Election expenses of off-cycle or other elections shall relate to the period between the publication of notice for a particular election by the commission and the date of the election. The election expenses of a candidate shall not exceed the limits prescribed in the Electoral Act, 2022.”

The guidelines explained that the election expenses of a political party shall be in three parts: the management of aspirants and party primaries, management of candidates and conduct of elections and miscellaneous election expenses.

The guideline noted that the miscellaneous election expenses of a political party shall include but not be limited to re-election cases against the party, post-election or election petitions and re-mobilisation of party members after elections.

Meanwhile, INEC has approved the reappointment of the secretary of the commission, Mrs Rose Oriaran-Anthony, for a second and final term of four years, with effect from December 7, 2022, in accordance with section 8 of the Electoral Act, 2022.

The INEC national commissioner and chairman, Information and Voter Education Committee, Festus Okoye, noted this in a statement released along with the guidelines.