The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has refused to publicise the audited reports of political parties’ campaign funds, which clearly shows that the commission is shielding parties in the country.
Three years since the last general elections and exactly 110 days to the 2023 general election, the Commission is yet to publish the expenditures of political parties. This is clearly in defiance of the new Electoral Act.
INEC had earlier established that the ruling All Progressives Party (APC) and the major opposition party, Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), spent at least three times more than what the law permitted them in the last general election.
INEC, through tracking and monitoring, established that the APC spent N4.6 billion (N4,620,144,784) while the PDP spent N3.3 billion (N3,282,206,642) on the last presidential election on billboards, print media advertisements, electronic media advertisements, and coverage (musical performances) during the polls.
However, they did not submit their financial reports as required by law.
During the 2019 general election, the maximum limit of campaign spending was N1 billion.