Concerning the upcoming 2023 elections, the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) said that political parties in Nigeria are not permitted to accept funds from foreign countries.
INEC National Commissioner Festus Okoye said during a program monitored by The Herald that parties are also not allowed to receive donations anonymously.
The provision may have an impact on parties like the Labour Party, which have relied on Nigerians in the diaspora to bankroll part of their campaigns.
“Section 225 of the Nigerian constitution makes it clear that no registered political party in Nigeria shall possess any funds outside the country,” Mr Okoye said.
“In other words, a political party cannot open an account and have monies remitted into that particular account outside the Federal Republic of Nigeria.
“Secondly it makes it clear that no political party shall under any circumstance retain any funds remitted to it outside the country.
“And if such funds are remitted to the political party from outside the country, that particular political party has a constitutional and legal obligation to turn in such funds to INEC within a period of 21 days from the date of receipt of such funds.”
READ ALSO: October 1: President Buhari to give independence day speech