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2023 Elections: No Party Allowed To Solicit Funds Outside Nigeria – Electoral Body, INEC

Festus Okoye
October 1, 2022

This was declared by Festus Okoye, the body’s National Commissioner, adding that no party was allowed to collect money from unknown sources.
 

 

The Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, has warned all political parties from seeking funding from foreign countries as the 2023 general elections approach.
This was declared by Festus Okoye, the body’s National Commissioner, on Friday while appearing on a Channels TV programme, adding that no party was allowed to collect money from unknown sources.
He explained that such was contrary to Section 225 of the Nigerian constitution which according to him, states that “no registered political party in Nigeria shall possess any funds outside the country,”
He further insisted that if such funds are remitted to the political party from outside Nigeria, “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.”
This is coming amid speculations that the Labour Party’s presidential candidate, Mr Peter Obi, solicited financial assistance from some foreigners to fund his campaign.
The party had, however, debunked the allegations, saying it never begged anyone for funds.
The National Publicity Secretary of the Labour Party, Abayomi Oluwafemi, gave this clarification in a telephone interview with Vanguard.
He dismissed concerns that the party was seeking foreign finance for its activities as part of the theatrics of political opponents who were terrified by the Labour Party and its presidential candidate's rising stature.
Oluwafemi said, “It is ridiculous that our political opponents have descended to a new low to insinuate that our party is oblivious of electoral laws.
“For the avoidance of doubt, neither our party nor our candidate is seeking for foreign funding for any of our activities.”

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Elections