SERAP DEMANDS PRESEDENTIAL CANDIDATES TO PUBLISH SOURCES OF

CAMPAIGN FUNDING
Socio-Economic Rights and Accountability Project has sent an open letter to presidential
candidates ahead of the February 2023 presidential election, urging them to demonstrate
leadership by directing their campaign councils and political parties to regularly and widely
publish the sources of their campaign funding.

SERAP said: “We are concerned about the vulnerability of political parties to corruption.
Disproportionally large donations seeking specific outcomes or preferential treatment can
subvert the wider public interest.”

In the open letter signed by SERAP deputy director Kolawole Oluwadare, the organisation said:
“Transparency would help to control inappropriate influence on political candidates, ensure
fairness, equality, and accountability in Nigeria’s democracy.”

SERAP also said, “Transparency in campaign funding would improve public trust in Nigeria’s
politicians and political parties, and show your commitment to prevent and combat corruption
if elected.”

According to SERAP, “If Nigerians know where the money is coming from, they can scrutinise
the details, and hold to account the candidate and party that receive it.”

The letter, read 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.”

“Party corruption undermines the legitimacy of government, public trust and, ultimately,
democracy.”

“Opacity in campaign funding can distort the electoral competition and lead to state capture
by wealthy politicians and individuals, and encourage politicians to divert public resources for
political purposes.”

“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.”

“Political parties provide the necessary link between voters and government. No other context
is as important to democracy than elections to public office. Nigerians therefore must be
informed about the sources of campaign funding of those who seek their votes.”

“SERAP also urges you to urgently invite the Independent National Electoral Commission
(INEC), the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC)
and the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) to monitor campaign funding
and expenditures by your political party.”

“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.”

“Similarly, the African Union Convention on Preventing and Combating Corruption which
Nigeria has also ratified requires states parties to incorporate the principle of transparency
into funding of political parties.”

“Sections 225 and 226 of the Nigerian Constitution and Sections 86, 87 and 90 the Electoral
Act 2022 demonstrate the importance of transparency and accountability in party and
campaign finances, and why political parties must be proactive in disclosing the sources of
their donations and contributions, and how they spend the funds they receive.”

“Please let us know if you and your political party are willing to commit to the issues outlined
in this letter.”

Presidential candidates for Nigeria’s general elections in 2023 include: Alhaji Atiku Abubakar
of Peoples’ Democratic Party (PDP); Asiwaju Bola Tinubu of All Progressive Congress (APC);
Mr Peter Obi of Labour Party (LP); Mr Rabiu Musa Kwankwaso of New Nigeria Peoples Party
(NNPP); and Professor Peter Umeadi of All Progressive Grand Alliance (APGA).

TROUBLE IN PLACE FOR WIKE ,IKPEAZU,ORTOM,MAKINDE UGWUANYI

Wike is the arrowhead of a group, which comprises some state governors within the PDP,
calling for the resignation of the party’s National Chairman, Iyorchia Ayu, in order to achieve
some geo-political balance in the party since he lost the VP slot to his Delta State counterpart,
Ifeanyi Okowa, who sabotaged the South’s bid for the presidential ticket of the main
opposition party.

The controversial Rivers State Governor gave the directive during the inauguration of the
state’s campaign committee at the Government House, Port Harcourt.

In a related development, Governor Samuel Ortom of Benue State, a Wike supporter, also hit
at Atiku for what he described as his open support for the Miyetti Allah Cattle Breeders
Association, alleged by the governor to be the sponsor of acts of terrorism against his state.

Ortom demanded an apology from Atiku, warning that failure on the part of the PDP
presidential flagbearer to do so, “we would vote according to the elections in 2023,” a subtle
threat against Atiku’s presidential bid.

Speaking on Wike’s move, a dependable party source who confided in this newspaper, said,
“We have been expecting such action since he announced the appointment of 14,000 aides
recently and failed to heed the BoT Chairman’s appeal for restraint on the part of the
members and leaders of the party to enable a peaceful resolution of differences and conflicts
within.

“His claim that Atiku did not consult him on the appointment of some members of the Rivers
chapter of the party in the Presidential Campaign Committee is a ruse. State chapters of the
PDP were asked to send representatives, but he did not.”

The anonymous source, who said the party saw through Wike’s aim to frustrate the take-off
of its campaigns, hinted that with the River State governor’s recent move, the party may have
to ignore him and move ahead with electioneering.

But the PDP National Publicity Secretary, Debo Ologunaba, is cautious in his assessment of
the development. He told THEWILL on Friday, “Wike is and still remains our party man.
Reconciliation is an internal process and we are still at it. Twenty-four hours is a lifetime in
politics.”
He declined to be drawn into the prevailing view within the party that Wike and his group also
face a dilemma that makes their demands not to be taken too seriously.

The other four state governors who have ganged up with Wike against the party, namely
Governor Seyi Makinde of Oyo State and his Benue, Enugu and Abia counterparts, respectively,
Samuel Ortom, Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi and Okezie Ikpeazu are all in the same political
circumstances.

Apart from Mr. Makinde, who is running for a second term in office, the rest are senatorial
candidates on the platform of the PDP, meaning that there is a limit to which they can make
their inter-party demand without offending the sensibilities of the stakeholders in their
respective states.

Makinde was a relatively unknown politician until 2019 when he emerged Governor of Oyo
State on the platform of the PDP. His emergence was fortuitous, owing to Atiku’s
performance in the presidential election of that year, which he won in the state.

Capitalising on this victory, former members of the party, who had defected and picked
tickets of rival parties, got together to re-establish control of the state’s political structure.
Led by former governor Alao Akala, the aggrieved politicians agreed to sink their differences
and support Makinde’s candidacy on the platform of the PDP. He won the election.

Staring at the governor in the face now is a possible replay of this scenario, if he works
against his party to spite its presidential candidate.

How? If he were to campaign for another party’s presidential candidate in the hope that he
would be free from a possible repercussion because his (governorship) election comes up in
March, 2023. Past experience, also drawn from the state, proves this strategy to be a
dangerous one. That was in 2007.

Rashidi Ladoja, governor of the state, was removed from office in 2006. But he got reinstated
through a court judgment. By that time, Alao-Akala, his deputy, who had held forth while he
fought his removal at the court, had been chosen as the governorship candidate of the party
for the 2007 polls.

Vexed by this development, Ladoja sought his pound of flesh. He entered into an alliance with
the governorship candidate of the then All Nigeria Peoples Party (ANPP), Abiola Ajimobi. He
directed his supporters in Ibadan to vote for Ajimobi as governor and for the PDP candidates
at the House of Assembly as well as the House of Representatives.

Unfortunately, many of the voters who had been sensitised and mobilised with the symbol of
ANPP, which is maize, voted for the symbol all the way. Majority of the voters who were
illiterates could not afford the luxury of voting for one symbol and then looking for another on
the same ballot paper. And so, the PDP lost all the 11 House of Assembly and House of
Representatives seats available for Ibadan to the ANPP.

The lesson is that if another party, other than the PDP, were to emerge victorious in Oyo State
at the presidential poll in a similar manner, history may repeat itself, particularly when either
of the two major parties, PDP and APC, have alternated power in the state. This possibility,
THEWILL investigation shows, will put pressure on Makinde to bestir himself and deliver the
state to his party.

For Governors Ortom, Ugwuanyi and Ikpeazu, who are senatorial aspirants on the platform of
the PDP, their election as National Assembly members will take place on the same day as the
presidential candidates on February 25, 2023. It is not their faces but the logo of the party that
will be on the ballot.
For Ikpeazu and Ugwanyi of Abia and Enugu States, respectively, the challenge is stark. Both
states have been controlled by the same party, the PDP, for the past 22 years with vested
interests and privileges that run to the roots of communities there.

In consideration of this reality, these governors agreed to name big wigs from the state to
participate in the Presidential Campaign Council of the party. In fact, women groups recently
stormed the Governor’s Lodge in Enugu to remind Ugwuanyi that “Enugu is a PDP state.”

The PDP Chairman in Enugu State, Chief Augustine Nnamani, failed to respond to a request
for his reaction. So did his Abia State counterpart, Hon Asiforo Okere.

But an aide to Nnamani confided in THEWILL saying that “nobody would want to speak on
this matter for fear of offending the powers that be.”

For Ortom, the challenge is tough and hard. All the key PDP stalwarts are distributed evenly in
the three senatorial zones in the state. Former Governor, Gabriel Suswan, comes from Zone A;
ex-President of the Senate, David Mark and former Internal Affairs Minister, Abba Moro, come
from Zone C, while Ortom and party National Chairman, Ayu, come from Zone B.

Attempts to get the reaction of the acting party Chairman in the state, Isaac Mfo, proved
abortive as he would not answer calls put to his phone. But a notable party official said, “Any
anti-PDP sentiment will not fly in this state,” but expressed the hope that the recent
disagreement between the governor and Atiku has the “possibility of reconciliation.”

Ambassador Desmond Akawo, Rivers State Chairman, declined several calls put through to
his phone. So did Kelvin Ebri, the Media Assistant to Wike.

But the spokesman of the Atiku/Okowa Campaign Council in Rivers State, Dr. Leloonu
Nwibubasa, debunked claims by Wike that Atiku failed to contact him for names to represent
the state on the PPC.

He insisted that Wike and the state Chairman of the party were informed about the
composition of the PPC.

Nwibubasa, a former Commissioner for Employment Generation under Wike’s administration,

said on Friday that the governor was pursuing a personal vendetta against the PDP since he
lost out in the party’s presidential primary election.

According to him, “The governor’s statement is misleading and there is no truth in the
allegations he has levelled against the PDP at the national level.

“His statement is completely misleading and we are advising the Rivers people to take notice
of this that this is a product of a personal vendetta by the governor having lost out of the PDP
presidential primaries.

“It has nothing to do with the PDP at the national level. We also understand that the governor
has been pushing Rivers people in the direction of his own selfish interest.

“When the people know the truth, they will align with the truth and that is why we are speaking
up. Rivers is a PDP state and whoever wants to push us from the PDP to any other party is an
enemy of the state.

“I can tell you that even some of the people you said are supporters of the governor are not.
They may be his supporters publicly, but in their minds, they are all going to work for the PDP
eventually.

“But for fear of the governor and because they hold positions right now in Rivers State, they
are likely to be telling you, we’re with Wike. I can tell you that no one is with Wike.”.

.
NAIRA TO BE REDESIGNED
Buhari said Nigerians with illicit money stashed in the soil would have problems with the new
naira notes.

He, however, assured that Nigerians would gain a lot when the redesigned new notes are
launched.

Recall that the CBN Governor, Godwin Emefiele had announced the launch of the redesigned
naira notes on Friday.

Emefiele said the new notes would be launched on December 15, 2022.

Emefiele said the new currencies to be launched are N1,000, N500 and N200 notes.

However, the president said Nigeria with legitimate businesses would have no problem with
the latest measure.

In a series of tweets, Buhari wrote: “President Buhari today said that the decision of the
Central Bank of Nigeria

cenbank to launch new designs and replace high value Naira notes had his support, and he is
convinced that the nation will gain a lot by doing so.

“People with illicit money buried under the soil will have a challenge with this but workers and
businesses with legitimate incomes will face no difficulties at all.”

Buhari’s comment is contrary to remarks by the Minister of Finance, Budget, and National
Planning, Zainab Ahmed on the CBN’s policy.

Ahmed had distanced herself from the planned naira redesign, stressing that the policy did
not receive the blessing of her ministry.

She warned of the dire consequences.