CSO attributes election malpractices to high cost of election financing

A civil society organisation, Centre for Democracy and Development (CDD), has attributed election malpractices to high cost of election financing in Nigeria.

The Director, CDD-West Africa, Dr Dauda Garuba, stated this in an interview with newsmen in Abuja on Thursday.

Garuba said that high cost of election financing, including exorbitant fees for nomination forms and unchecked campaign spending, had continued to shut out ordinary citizens and encourage corruption in politics.

According to him, political parties usually charge amounts far beyond the reach of average Nigerians who may wish to contest for public offices.

“These financial barriers not only discourage youth participation but also fuel the desperation of politicians who seek to recover their investments through looting, once elected,” he said.

Although Garuba quoted the Electoral Act as putting limits on campaign spending, he, however, said that enforcement had remained weak.

“People begin spending money long before party primaries. So it is difficult to determine whether funds come directly from candidates, political parties, associates or family members,” he said.

The CDD director also argued that inability to accurately track political financing, coupled with lack of internal party reforms, had created room for wealthy aspirants to dominate the system.

He, however, said that reducing the influence of money in elections was possible if citizens could show greater interest and participate actively in the electoral process.

“Vote-buying thrives when voter turnout is low, making it easier for politicians with deep pockets to manipulate the outcomes.

“It is easy to buy votes when only a few people show up to vote. But if the entire voting population is mobilised and committed to the process, it becomes impossible for anyone to pay everybody,” he said.

Garuba urged Nigerians to take ownership of the electoral process, emphasising that broad civic participation remained the most effective way to counter excessive political spending and strengthen democracy.