The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has released new guidelines for political campaigns and election expenses of political parties, candidates, and aspirants.
The National Commissioner and INEC Spokesman, Festus Okoye, made this known in a statement issued on Thursday in Abuja.
Okoye said that the commission met and deliberated on several issues including the publication and release of the guidelines for the conduct of political rallies and funding of political parties, candidates, and aspirants.
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He said Section 88 of the Electoral Act provides that the maximum election expenses to be incurred by a candidate at a presidential election shall not exceed N5,000,000,000.
Okoye added that 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, while Section 88 (8) provides that no individual or other entity shall donate to a candidate more than N50,000,000.
He said the INEC has consequently uploaded the two documents to its website and social media handles, stating that copies would be made available to political parties, civil society groups, and other critical stakeholders.
Okoye reminded political parties of their obligation to submit the required reports to the commission in accordance with the provisions of Section 90(4) of the Electoral Act 2022 and the applicable sanctions for failure to comply as provided in Section 89(4) of the Electoral Act.
The INEC spokesman added that the commission leadership also deliberated on the approval of the reappointment of the Secretary of the Commission, Rose Oriaran-Anthony.
Okoye said Oriaran-Anthony was reappointed for a second and final term of four years, with effect from December 7, in accordance with Section 8 of the Electoral Act, 2022.
