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INEC Requests EFCC To Help Monitor Politicians Spending For 2019 Polls

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{L-R}: Acting Chairman of the EFCC, Ibrahim Magu and INEC Chairman, Prof. Mahmood Yakubu during the courtesy visit.

The Independent National Electoral Commission has appealed to the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission to help monitor the sources of funding and spendings of political parities as the 2019 general elections approach.

INEC chairman, Prof. Mahmood Yakubu, made the appeal on Thursday, when he hosted the acting chairman of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, Mr. Ibrahim Magu, at the commission’s office in Abuja.

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The INEC boss revealed that though laws were in place to curb excessive spending, many politicians and political parties do not obey such laws.

Yakubu said, “The Electoral Act places limits on the amount that each individual can spend in an election and also the amount that friends of candidates and parties can contribute in the election.

“We want the EFCC which has the mandate and capacity to track and trace sources of funds to work closely with us so that we can trace within the limits of the law. Our democracy should never be on sale and I believe by working closely with the EFCC, we can achieve that.”

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“As we approach the 2019 general elections, we will require your support essentially in two ways. Number one, INEC is worried by the recent trend of vote buying at open polling stations. Candidates and parties go to polling stations with sacks of money to induce voters.

“Only the votes of citizens should determine who wins an election. Our democracy must never be for sale on the open market. It is the will of the people that should determine who wins.

“Open vote buying will not be tolerated by the commission and we don’t want the 2019 general election to be determined by the amount of money that people have.”

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Yakubu further stated the commission does not condone any corrupt official within its workforce and appreciated those faithfully carrying out their duties without fear or favour.

“We interdicted a total of 205 officials. I also wish to say that among the staff of the commission are some of the conscientious and most hard-working Nigerians and it is for that reason that last year, the commission promoted 7,330 staff members.

“I also wish to say that we are one of the agencies in the country working under extreme pressure with time limits. Everything we do has a time limit under the law. In January, we conducted elections in three states and we have another one in Katsina this Saturday and thereafter, we have another one in Taraba.”

“As a result of the tremendous pressure on the staff, it may interest you to know that we lost 85 employees of INEC, many of them were as a result of stress-related illnesses. In fact, as we speak, one of our officials had a stroke yesterday and is in hospital,” Yakubu added.

The EFCC boss had earlier in his comments, called on all well meaning Nigerians to join the commission in its fight against corruption.

“Everyone must join in the fight against corruption. Corruption is a disaster, it has done too much damage in this country and I believe INEC is fighting corruption indirectly. They may not be fighting corruption the way we are fighting it. That is why I said fight corruption whichever way you want to fight it,” he submitted.

According to provisions of the Electoral Act, no presidential candidate can spend over N1bn, no governorship candidate can spend over N200m and no senatorial candidate can spend above N40m.

The law also limits the amount of money that a person or association can donate to a political campaign.