“Make Public Audited Accounts Of Political Parties”, Lawyer Charges INEC, Threatens Legal Action

By Ayodele Oni

An Akure-based legal practitioner, Femi Emodamori, has asked the Independent National Electoral Commission, (INEC) to make public audited accounts of political parties which participated in this year’s general elections in accordance with law.

In a letter to the electoral umpire, Emodamori pointed out that six months after the elections were concluded, INEC has breached sections of the constitution by its failure to compel political parties to make public their audited accounts.

He stated that INEC has not been alive to its all-important constitutional responsibility of publishing and/or directing the publications of audited accounts of funds and accounts of political parties

“The provisions of the law  expressly place responsibility on INEC to examine, audit and publish the annual funds and accounts of political parties for public information.

1. 89 (3), 89 (6) and 89 (8) of the Electoral Act, 2022 specifically mandate every political party to submit a separate audited election expenses to INEC together with an affidavit of its correctness, to be sworn by the Party’s Auditors and Chairman, within six months after the election.

“INEC will make same available for public inspection. The constitutional responsibilities of INEC in this regard are perhaps just as important as conducting elections.

“It is therefore difficult to understand why INEC seems to be timid or lethargic in opening the account books of political parties in Nigeria and/or causing them to open same to the public as stipulated by law.

“I am aware that only one Omoyele Sowore, the presidential aspirant of the African Action Congress (AAC) in the last presidential election, published the incomes and expenses relating to his presidential ambition, although not strictly in accordance with the laws cited above.

“The poser that begs for an answer is, ‘where are the 2023 election related accounts of other political parties, including those mouthing transparency and accountability?’

“We must begin to seriously interrogate party financing, patronage and god-fatherism in Nigeria, if we are truly serious about fighting corruption and deepening political inclusivity, particularly amongst the youths.

“I am not and have never been a politician. But the task of our nation building is too serious to be left for politicians alone. On this premise, I hereby demand that:

“INEC should publish the 2022 audited accounts of all the political parties in Nigeria and/or cause the parties to also publish same within 14 days upon receipt of this letter;

“INEC should kindly make available to me, either in hard or soft copies, the Certified True Copies of the audited 2023 election expenses of all the political parties in Nigeria, in line with   Section 89 (3) & (8) of the Electoral Act, 2022 and Section 1 (1) of the Freedom of Information Act, 2011.

“Take Notice that if the Commission fails to comply with the above demands, I would, without further notice, invoke the law through the Court to compel the Commission to do that which it seems to be lethargic in doing.”