The National Assembly has reviewed the limit to which a political party and a sponsor can donate to a party on a candidate’s electioneering in the Electoral Act 2010 (Amendment) Bill presently before it.
This is as the National Assembly is ‘cleaning up the electoral bill before transmitting it to President Muhammadu Buhari, for the second time.
In the bill that is scheduled for passing to the President for assent, the Independent National Electoral Commission(INEC) is empowered to set ceilings for donations and expenses by donors, sponsors, candidates and political parties for electioneering under Section 90 titled, ‘Power to Limit Contribution to a Political Party.
The new Section 90 of the bill reads, “(1) The commission shall have the power to place limitations on the amount of money or other assets, which an individual can contribute to a political party or candidate, and demand such information on the amount donated and source of the funds.
“(2) Any individual, candidate or political party, who exceeds the limit placed by the commission in subsection (1), commits an offence and is liable on conviction to (a) in case of a political party, a fine not more than N10, 000,000.00 and forfeiture of the amount donated; and (b) in case of an individual, a fine of five times the amount donated more than the limit placed by the commission.”
Clause 91 of the new electoral bill reads, “(1) Election expenses shall not exceed the sum stipulated in subsections (2) (3) (4) (5) (6) and (7).
“(2) The maximum election expenses to be incurred by a candidate at a presidential election shall not exceed N5, 000,000,000.00.
“(3) The maximum amount of election expenses to be incurred by a candidate in respect of the governorship election shall not exceed N1, 000,000,000.00.
“(4) The maximum amount of election expenses to be incurred by a candidate in respect of senatorial and House of Representatives seats shall not exceed N100, 000,000.00 and N70, 000,000.00 respectively.”
“(5) In the case of the state Assembly election, the maximum amount of election expenses to be incurred by a candidate shall not exceed N30, 000,000.00.
“(6) In the case of a chairmanship election to an area council, the maximum amount of election expenses to be incurred by a candidate shall not exceed N30, 000,000.00.
“(7) In the case of council election to an area council, the maximum amount of election expenses to be incurred by a candidate shall not exceed N5, 000,000.00.”
