INEC vows to enforce electoral campaign financing rules

From Osakhare Erese, Asaba

Ahead of the 2019 General Elections, the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has vowed to sanction violators of Electoral Campaign Financing Rules, adding that modalities were put in place to ensure the rules are followed to the letters.
At workshop held in Asaba on Wednesday, INEC National Commissioner, South South, Dr. Mohammed Leki, noted that the Electoral Act of 2010 empowers INEC to monitor political parties including their finances; sources of the finance, how the finances were used, ethnical issues, and the way the finance were expanded.
The workshop aimed at enabling participants to understand the concept of political campaign financing, the legal framework of campaign, finance tracking and reporting for the 2019 general elections, as well as develop a uniform format for collating finance tracking reporting, was attended by well-meaning journalists, and politicians.
Dr. Leki however disclosed that modest attempts were made in the 2015 general elections in this regard, but were yet to achieve it desired success in monitoring political parties, adding that most political parties were not transparent enough on their campaign finances.
He stressed the need to monitor closely political parties’ finances due to potential abuses, and grave havoc on outcome of electoral process, noting that the challenges involved in carrying out such responsibilities were a global phenomenon, adding that there having been issues with campaign finances, but assured that Government/Civil Society Organizations were on top of the situation to ensure they understand sources of political parties’ finances.