A civil society organization, Kimpact Development Initiative (KDI), has called on the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), security agencies and Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) to probe the source of the widely reported N100 million donation by APC Youths in Kogi state.
KDI urged related institutions to ascertain the source of the funds and assess compliance with applicable financial and anti-money-laundering laws.
In a statement signed by the Executive Director of KDI, Bukola Idowu, the civil society organization said the public celebration of this financial commitment at a political rally, reportedly in the presence of senior public officials, raises significant legal, ethical, and democratic questions that require urgent clarification by relevant regulatory and law-enforcement institutions.
It expressed deep concern over media reports that a group described as APC youths in Kogi state publicly announced a N100 million contribution intended to fund the future purchase of the 2027 presidential nomination form of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu.
KDI noted that while political support and civic engagement are legitimate elements of democratic participation, campaign and political financing in Nigeria are not without limits as the law clearly establishes safeguards to prevent undue influence, monetization of politics, and the distortion of democratic competition.
Considering legal concerns and implications, KDI stated that Section 87(1) and (2) of the Electoral Act, 2022, empowers the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to regulate political contributions, and Section 88(8) places a clear ceiling of N50 million on donations by individuals or entities in relation to a candidate in any election.
“While the reported N100 million was described as a fund for a future nomination form, its stated purpose is explicitly tied to advancing the political ambition of a named candidate. This raises a prima facie compliance concern, particularly where such contributions are publicly mobilised, pooled, or presented outside the statutory limits contemplated by law. If allowed to stand without regulatory clarification, this practice risks creating a precedent whereby contribution limits can be circumvented through support groups or informal political associations.
“Sections 221 and 225 of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria (1999, as amended) place political parties under strict obligations of transparency and accountability in their sources of funding. These constitutional provisions exist to ensure fairness, protect political equality, and prevent the capture of democratic processes by financial power.
“Large, highly publicised political contributions, especially those linked to public officeholders or organised political structures, risk undermining public confidence in the integrity of Nigeria’s electoral system if not subjected to appropriate scrutiny and disclosure,” the statement read.
KDI said it is concerned by reports indicating the presence and endorsement of public officials at an event where an arguably unlawful political contribution was announced.
The statement said while political speech is protected, public officeholders bear a heightened responsibility to uphold the law and avoid actions that may be perceived as legitimizing non-compliance with electoral regulations.
“Where political finance activities occur in the shadow of state authority, legitimate questions arise
regarding institutional oversight, abuse of influence, and regulatory silence,” KDI said.
The civil society organization said failure to promptly clarify or address this development may have broader consequences for Nigeria’s democratic trajectory, including the gradual normalization of excessive political spending, weakened enforcement of campaign finance laws, reduced public trust in regulatory institutions, and increased barriers to participation for less-resourced political actors.
“A credible 2027 election process requires that political finance rules be applied consistently, transparently, and without exception.”
KDI called on the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to publicly clarify the legal status of pooled or group-based contributions intended for nomination forms, and to demand full disclosure of
the source, structure, and intended use of the reported N100 million in line with Sections 89 and
90 of the Electoral Act, 2022.
The civil society organization tasked Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC) to review whether the involvement of public officials raises issues of abuse of office or improper political advantage.
It also called on the Nigeria Police Force, where necessary, to investigate any clear violations of electoral law in accordance with its statutory mandate.
“Respect for campaign finance laws is essential to democratic legitimacy. Political enthusiasm must operate within the boundaries of the law, and regulatory institutions must act decisively when those boundaries appear threatened.
“Kimpact Development Initiative remains committed to promoting transparency, accountability, and
the rule of law in Nigeria’s political finance landscape and will continue to engage constructively with
stakeholders to protect the integrity of the country’s democratic process ahead of 2027,” the statement added.
