On Political Financing in Nigeria

The link between party financing and corruption in Nigeria is so clear that to overlook the former is tacit acceptance of the latter.

Written by Anie Anokuru

May 9, 2019

Campaigning in the Nigeria elections in 2015. CREATIVE COMMONS / HEINRICH-BÖLL-STIFTUNG

Since the advent of democracy in 1999, Nigeria has yet to comprehensively overhaul the means through which political parties are funded. Political finance laws and regulations, which govern how political parties and candidates for elective offices declare their funding sources, have always been flouted and abused. Political parties require funding to campaign and carry out routine operations. While any definition of democracy will require political parties and coalitions to be able to freely fund themselves, the situation in Nigeria has given room for undemocratic practices that are neither transparent nor accountable. The result is that constraints on political party funding exist only on paper.

The link between party financing and corruption in Nigeria is so clear that to overlook the former means tacit acceptance of the latter. Nonetheless, the various Electoral Acts of 2002, 2006, 2010, and even that of 2018 (amended) have all been short on implementation in the area of party financing. Since the Fourth Republic (1999 – present), Nigeria’s political parties have been characterized by undemocratic practices, coupled with gross misconducts against transparency and accountability.

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About the Author

Anie Anokuru

is a consultant, strategist and solutions provider in marketing communications. He is a writer and content editor interested in contemporary national, global socio-political and economic issues.

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On Political Financing in Nigeria