By Paschal Candle
Recently, Governor Soludo has been going around Towns and Communities receiving Cash and Financial Endorsements from Traditional Rulers , Stakeholders and Groups. This curious trend is unfolding ahead of November 8 Governorship Election. These groups and Communities are now raising funds to Promote Governor Soludo even some Opposition Parties Candidates.
Here are some of the public supports and financial Donations from Different organizations and unions For Governor Soludo’s Campaign.
Recently, Governor Soludo has been going around Towns and Communities receiving Cash and Financial Endorsements from Traditional Rulers , Stakeholders and Groups. This curious trend is unfolding ahead of November 8 Governorship Election. These groups and Communities are now raising funds to Promote Governor Soludo even some Opposition Parties Candidates.
Here are some of the public supports and financial Donations from Different organizations and unions For Governor Soludo’s Campaign.
Anambra Central Senatorial District, endorsement and N70 Million
Anambra South Senatorial District, endorsement and N100 Million.
Obosi community, endorsement, and N50 Million.
Igboukwu community, endorsement, and N50 Million.
Ogidi community, endorsement, and N50 Million.
Ekwulobia community, endorsement, and N80 Million.
Umuawulu Ambassadors, N20 Million.
Awka North LG, endorsement and N150 Million.
Nando United Brothers, endorsement, and N15 Million
Solution Parents League, endorsement and N3,000,130.00
All Soludo Support Group, endorsement, and N30 Million.
Oba Community, endorsement, and N50 Million
Anambra Traders Association (ASMATA), endorsement, and N10 Million.
Oraifite community, endorsement, and N100 Million.
Ihiala Town, endorsement, and N50 Million.
Idemili North & South, endorsement, and N20 Million.
Anambra Students, endorsement, and N2 Million, among many others…
Awka South Local Government Area over N100 Million Naira and many more.
Dunukofia Stakeholders N200 Million.
On the surface,it looks like a display of love and purported people taking ownership of Soludo re-election. Many of these are stage managed to give Governor Soludo a popularity he didn’t deserve. However, under this purported and eye service endorsement lies a lot of moral and Legal questions that INEC and Other Candidates must address.
From the Communities and Groups I listed the figures or amounts that Governor Soludo had received, such Figures and amounts violates the Provisions of Electoral Act 2022 as Amended.
The 2022 Electoral Act stated how much a candidate can receive? The recently passed amendment to the Electoral Act also emphasises INEC’s power to determine the limit on campaign donations. *Section 88 (8) currently pegs the maximum limit of donations to a candidate at ₦50 million and lists fines and proposed court counts to candidates and parties that err on this front.
This section states in clear terms the amount an Individual can Contribute to a Political Party or Candidate.
The maximum amount of money or other assets that an individual, a group of
individuals or an entity can donate to a political party or Candidate for an election shall be N50,000,000 (fifty million Naira only)
A Political Party shall not accept any monetary or other contribution which is more than N50,000,000 except it identifies and discloses the source of the contribution to the Commission.
Even in the same Act, it stated the limit of an election expenses by a Candidate.
The election expenses of a candidate shall not exceed the limits prescribed in the
Electoral Act, 2022.
The election expenses of a Political Party shall be in three parts:
For the management of Aspirants and Party Primaries.
For management of Candidates and conduct of elections.
For miscellaneous election expenses
When this Provision was enacted into Electoral Act 2022, The key objective of the finance rules is to ensure a free and fair election. In practical terms, regulation of campaign financing discourages corruption and political capture
by the wealthy and big corporations. The argument is that this group of political
stakeholders take control of politicians and governance through financing of candidates.
INEC by allowing this to happen has too significant implications to democracy. It invalidates the essence of elections as the voting process is undermined already.
All these donations to Governor Soludo and some opposition Candidates like APC Candidate, on the face of it, violate the provisions of the Electoral Act 2022, which limits individual or entity contributions to ₦50 million per candidate and forbids both foreign and anonymous donations.
The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) cannot afford to look away. Where there are credible reports of excessive or unlawful campaign funding, the Commission must act promptly. The evidence of these donations are there on the media space. INEC must take Governor Soludo to court over the Breach of Electoral Act. They must apply the law without fear or favour on Governor Soludo and others.
INEC Silence in this clear violation of Electoral Act not only emboldens violators but also undermines the credibility of the entire electoral process.
INEC’s swift enforcement will determine whether this “new normal” deepens democratic participation — or desecrates it. To the New INEC Chairman, who is respected Lawyer, Who majors on Law of Evidence. The Evidence is there for you to act.
Comrade Amb. Paschal Candle is a Public Affairs Analyst and social Critic, writes from Awka Anambra State.
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