The Independent National Electoral Commission has called on the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission to monitor the sources of funding of political parties ‘campaigns as the 2019 general elections draw near.
The Chairman of INEC, Prof. Mahmood Yakubu, said this when the acting EFCC Chairman, Mr. Ibrahim Magu, paid him a courtesy visit in Abuja on Thursday.
According to the Electoral Act, no presidential candidate can spend over N1bn, no governorship candidate can spend over N200m and no senatorial candidate can spend above N40m.
The law also limits the amount of money that a person or association can donate to a political campaign.
Yakubu said, “The Electoral Act places limits on the amount that each individual can spend in an election and also the amount that friends of candidates and parties can contribute in the election.
“We want the EFCC which has the mandate and capacity to track and trace sources of funds to work closely with us so that we can trace within the limits of the law. Our democracy should never be on sale and I believe by working closely with the EFCC, we can achieve that.”
He went further to say “As we approach the 2019 general elections, we will require your support essentially in two ways. Number one, INEC is worried by the recent trend of vote buying at open polling stations. Candidates and parties go to polling stations with sacks of money to induce voters.
“Only the votes of citizens should determine who wins an election. Our democracy must never be for sale on the open market. It is the will of the people that should determine who wins.
“Open vote buying will not be tolerated by the commission and we don’t want the 2019 general election to be determined by the amount of money that people have.”
Yakubu thanked the EFCC Boss for exposing corrupt officials many of whom are currently facing charges in various courts.
Responding the EFCC Boss said “Everyone must join in the fight against corruption. Corruption is a disaster, it has done too much damage in this country and I believe INEC is fighting corruption indirectly. They may not be fighting corruption the way we are fighting it. That is why I said fight corruption whichever way you want to fight it.”