AN EXAMINATION OF THE FUNDING OF POLITICAL PARTIES AND CANDIDATES IN NIGERIA

Abstract

This research work examines funding of political parties and candidates in Nigeria. This research work examines the scope of funding of political parties and candidates in Nigeria. It further examines the laws relating to the funding of political parties and candidates in Nigeria. In the course of this research, it observed that political parties and elections constitutionally has given democracy legitimacy, credibility and general acceptance as essential elements of pluralistic democracies. Parties are political framework under which platform people of like minds converge to articulate ideas and best strategies to canvass for public support to compete and possibly capture state power through elections. The study found that the Electoral Act is silent in many instances of potential political party complicity in electoral offences. However, the law could be reformed to improve political party accountability and reduce the incidence of electoral offences in Nigeria. It is the considered view that the Act has made considerable provisions regarding Party Funding and Finance. The study concluded that the entire process of political party financing in Nigeria�s Fourth Republic and that there is an urgent need to revisit the process and some parts of the regulations, especially the legal regime, political will and sanction, as well as the review of the maximum campaign spending limit in order to meet the current challenge and reality on the ground so as to avoid the illegality of excessive spending and violation of rules. The research recommends that maximum campaign spending limit should be reviewed upwards to ensure that parties and their contestants do not exceed their limit of campaign spending so as to limit sourcing of funds from illegal means such as the public treasury and donations above the limit set by the law. �

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urn:uuid:ad366a14-9577-4c18-8261-a685e50b42f4