Seven important agencies of government converged on Abuja ,the nation’s capital to proffer solutions to the role and influence of money in the 2023 general election. They all had one goal in mind: stop the influence of money in elections in the country and from their body language, the days of allowing money to influence the outcome of elections in the country are numbered.

Worried by the growing influence of money in the polity, the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), the Nigeria Police Force, Independent Corrupt Practices Commission (ICPC) the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC)Chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), National Broadcasting Commission, the Advertising Regulatory Council of Nigeria (ARCON) and other agencies met in Abuja on Monday to seek how to mitigate the influence of money in the upcoming elections.

Expectedly, Prof Mahmood Yakubu set the tone for the Summit when he called on Nigerians to reject inducements to sway their votes through vote buying. He urged the agencies to engage effectively in stopping the negative use of money in our electoral process generally by reporting cases to INEC and other agencies. In addition, civil society organisations should make this a major plank of both their pre-election and election observation activities. Financial institutions, religious organisations, traditional institutions, the media, civic bodies and, above all, citizens must also join in this fight”, he said.

Prof Yakubu noted that “the negative role of money in elections goes to the very heart of our democracy. It destroys the very basis of democratic elections which is that citizens should freely choose those who exercise power on their behalf. It renders the emergence of the right candidates for positions extremely difficult, undermines fair electoral adjudication, and destroys the professional and independent conduct of INEC officials and other public agencies involved in elections. Even more worrisome is the high prospect that criminal money may find its way into our elections through money laundering. Above all, the pernicious use of money tremendously increases the likelihood of election violence due to a “win at all costs” mentality among contestants who would have invested a fortune in election”.

Prof Yakubu said that election is not a business venture for profit and observed that ;”instead, it is an application to serve the people with the understanding that they may prefer someone else on one occasion. But then, there would be an opportunity to reapply after four years. Citizens’ choices must never be subverted by the negative use of money”.

He said many Nigerians have demanded to know from INEC what the Commission is doing about the deleterious influence of money in elections, particularly the diabolical purchase of Permanent Voters’ Cards (PVCs) from voters ahead of the election and vote buying at Polling Units on Election Day.

Explaining steps so far taken, Prof. Yakubu said the Commission over the years introduced a number of measures, including the slight reconfiguration of our Polling Units to bring the ballot boxes closer to the voting cubicles to discourage the exposure of the marked ballot papers by voters to vote buyers.

“We also banned the use of smart phones and photographic devices by voters in the voting cubicles. Yet, these measures have recorded limited success”, stressing that Monday’s initiative to sanitise and strengthen the nation’s electoral process by ;” dealing with the corruption of our elections by money, the Commission cannot do it alone. To succeed, we must mobilise every relevant national institution to support our effort. We must rely on the professional and other capacities of cognate agencies in our determination to improve electoral administration in Nigeria”.

He said the Commission welcome the assurances of full collaboration, commitment and partnership of the Police, the Independent Corrupt Practices Commission (ICPC), the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) as well as the regulatory bodies such as the National Broadcasting Commission (NBC) and the Advertising Regulatory Council of Nigeria (ARCON). these agencies to credible elections based on their statutory responsibilities.

He reminded Nigerians that the ban on cell phones at voting cubicles is still in force. “We have for some time now reorganised our Polling Units so that ballot boxes are placed next to the voting cubicles to forestall the practice by unscrupulous voters of showing their marked ballot papers to vote buyers. We appeal to voters to draw the attention of our polling officials wherever they observe that these basic rules are not complied with.

“Let me once again reassure Nigerians that we are determined to ensure a solid election management system and a legacy of credible elections in Nigeria. We believe that every conscientious Nigerian wants us to do so. As a Commission, we harbour no illusion that it is going to be easy

“We fully realise that today’s initiative will not go down well with people who may not be committed to the growth of our electoral system and the consolidation of our democracy. We expect them to fight back. There will be both covert and overt pressure, countervailing actions and even threats by these vested interests. I wish to reiterate that our loyalty is to Nigeria and our allegiance is to Nigerians. We are committed to working with the collaborating agencies to see that this initiative succeeds in the 2023 General Election and beyond,” he said.

Prof Yakubu concluded by reiterating the Commission’s resolve to continue to employ both technology and administrative measures to strengthen Nigeria’s electoral process.
“I assure Nigerians that preparation for the 2023 General Election is on course and we shall not be swayed from that course. Be assured that the BVAS has come to stay. Electronic transmission of results has come to stay. Public display of Polling Unit results through the IReV has come stay. With today’s initiative, the elimination of the negative use of money in our electoral process will be tackled head-on.

The Inspector General of Police ( IGP) Mr. Usman Alkali Baba who was represented by Assistant Inspector General of Police AIG Federal Operations, Mr. Bala Ciroma commended INEC for the summit’s initiative and said crack detectives have been dispatched to collect intelligence on the candidates and their associates.

Director General, National Broadcasting Commission (NBC)Mr. Balarabe Shehu Ilelah who urged media outfits to observe full compliance to the new financial regulation and the anti money laundering Act said electronic media houses should have a log book of their financial activities.

Mr Ilelah who said NBC is going to check the financial log book periodically quoted relevant sectns of the Act and penalties attached to its breaches. He reminded them that in collecting money for advertisment, the threshold is N5,000,000 or its equivalent for individual or N10,000,000 or its equivalent for body corporate.

He said a person shall not conduct two or more transactions separately with one or more financial institutions or designated non – financial business and professions with intent to avoid the duty to report a transaction which should be reported under the Act stressing that “a person who contravenes the provisions is liable on conviction to imprisonment for a term of not less than four years but not more than 14 years or a fine of not less than five times the value of the proceeds of the crime or both.

He urged media houses to keep hate speech off airwaves stressing that;” you must not allow your platform to be used to destroy this country. It is not going to be business as usual”.

Director General, Advertising Regulatory Council of Nigeria (ARCON),Dr. Olalekan Fadolapo reminded advertising agencies that the ARCON Act makes it mandatory that all adverts must be vetted by ARCON before they are exposed to the public.
He also said there would be strict compliance to the financial regulation and the anti money laundering Act.

Chairman, Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC),Mr.Abdulrasheed Bawa who was represented by his Chief of Staff, Hadiza Zubairu Gamawa noted that electioneering process comes with high spendings and in some instances proceeds of crime are laundered through the making of billboards,tv adverts,live shows,print media and so much more.

“We are, therefore, calling on all political parties to strictly adhere to the electoral guidelines, other extant laws and regulations aimed at addressing the use of funds to influence general election and make full disclosures of their sources of campaign finances.”It is our firm belief that curbing the use of funds to influence election outcomes is the right step in ensuring that we install leaders who will uphold probity, integrity and accountability

” It is therefore, in the interest of every Nigerian desirous of a better future for us and our unborn generations to insist on free, fair and credible elections,” the EFCC boss stressed.

Director, Chief Executive, Nigerian Financial Intelligence Unit, Mr. Modibbo Hamman Tukur said NFIU has activated it’s flagging system around the 18 Presidential candidates and their associates, strengthen in the background the policy of the CBN by issuing advisories and activation of early warning signs to all antigraft and security agencies.

Mr. Tukur hinted that “there may be no withdrawal from government accounts before the general election, adding; “most of the money they are using is free funds,money from government. No reasonable person will spend his hard earned money anyhow,” he stressed adding that the Unit will continue to produce and release reports before and during election to the relevant agencies.

He appealed to the IGP for surveillance, vigilance and rapid response if any intelligence is flagged or communicated.

Chairman , Independent Corrupt Practices Commission (ICPC) Prof. Bolaji Owasanoye said vote buying is real and blatant adding that ICPC will support INEC in monitoring compliance. He said the Commission has intensified its intelligence gathering and withdrawal of funds by politicians are being tracked.

Prof. Owasanoye said the Commission would assist INEC to analyse financial record of political parties submitted to the electoral umpire.

In his own contribution, Chairman, Inter-Party Advisory Council (IPAC) Eng. Yabagi Sani who said the use of money cannot be totally ruled out in an election called for the enforcement of the benchmark as done in other democracies.