The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has published guidelines for the conduct of campaigns and rallies of political parties, as well as election expenses of political parties and their candidates. The guidelines were published on Thursday in a statement issued by Festus Okoye, INEC National Commissioner and Chairman, Information and Voter Education Committee.
The guideline advised political parties to notify in hard copy or via a designated portal the Commission and other relevant stakeholders’ details of their political rallies such as time, date, venue, processions etc at least 10 days before the date of the political rally, campaign, or procession.
Regarding election expenses, the guideline stated, “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 aspirant for an election shall be N50,000,000. 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.
“Every political party that participated in an election shall submit to the portal designated by the Commission an audited report of its election expenses within 6 months after an election. The reporting period shall commence 360 days to and including the election day”.
The Commission also placed a ban on the conduct of political rallies and campaigns in public institutions and worship centres, adding that copies of the guidelines will be available for political parties and other relevant stakeholders.
