The Socio-Economic Rights and Accountability Project (SERAP) has told all presidential flagbearers ahead of the 2023 presidential general elections to demonstrate exemplary leadership by directing their “campaign councils and political parties to regularly and widely publish the sources of their campaign funding.”
Kolawole Oluwadare, who’s the SERAP deputy director, made this revelation in a signed open message at the weekend, revealed that transparency would assist to combat reckless influence on political candidates, effect fairness, equality, and accountability in the democracy of the country.
SERAP also said that transparency in sources of campaign funds would ensure trust off members of the public in the country’s political actors and parties and show their readiness to fight corruption if they get elected.
The open letter reads in part: “SERAP would consider appropriate legal actions to hold you and your political party to account for any infractions of the requirements of campaign funding, as provided for by the Nigerian Constitution 1999 [as amended], the Electoral Act and international standards, even after the 2023 elections.
“SERAP urges you to sign ‘transparency pacts’ that would mandate you to disclose the identities of donors and widely publish donations and contributions, including on your party website and social media platforms.
“Transparency in campaign funding would ensure fair and open elections, and address concerns about undue influence by the more economically advantaged and privileged individuals, as well as prevent corruption of the electoral process.”
“The UN Convention against Corruption, to which Nigeria is a state party, obligates states parties to enhance transparency in the funding of candidates for elected public office and, where applicable, the funding of political parties.”
The Informant247 reports that the presidential flagbearers for the country’s general elections in 2023 include: Alhaji Atiku Abubakar of Peoples Democratic Party (PDP); Asiwaju Bola Tinubu of All Progressives Congress (APC); Peter Obi of Labour Party (LP); Rabiu Musa Kwankwaso of New Nigeria Peoples Party (NNPP); and Prof. Peter Umeadi of All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA).
Other presidential candidates are Prince Malik Ado-Ibrahim of Young Progressive Party (YPP); Omoyele Sowore of Africa Action Congress (AAC); Dumebi Kachikwu of African Democratic Congress (ADC); Yusuf Mamman Dan Talle of Allied Peoples Movement (APM); Kola Abiola of Peoples Redemption Party (PRP); Professor Christopher Imumulen of Accord Party (AP); Prince Adewole Adebayo of Social Democratic Party (SDP).