Group questions Jonathan campaign funding.

CNPP spokesman, Osita Okechukwu, challenges Muhammadu Buhari

By Festus Owete

The Conference of Nigeria Political Parties (CNPP) says it will not congratulate President Goodluck Jonathan on his victory at the last Saturday’s presidential poll until he explains the source of his campaign funds.

The group said in a statement by its national publicity secretary, Osita Okechukwu yesterday, alleging that Mr Jonathan, who was the candidate of the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) violated the provision of the 2010 Electoral Act by overshooting the N1 billion recommended by the Act for presidential campaign.

“CNPP cannot congratulate President Goodluck Jonathan when on the last count, outside the breaches, he violently violated section 91 of the 2010 Electoral Act by spending over N100 billion in his campaign hence corrupting the electoral process,” said the group.

“Please, help me calculate the amount of money Jonathan’s campaign council spent on advertisement on electronic, print and social media network alone; it is over N17 billion.” Mr Okechukwu said. The statement added that the CNPP is aware of “how billions of naira were doled out across the country to induce voters by sundry groups in the name of President Jonathan and thus expanding the budgetary spending.”

Neighbour to Neighbour group

The group wondered who funded the “Neighbour to Neighbour” group, a component of the president’s campaign outfit, asking “did it discover electricity or a window in the computer?” “CNPP will congratulate President Jonathan when he comes clean on the amount spent and the sources, failing which the legitimacy crisis will linger,” the CNPP spokesman said.

According to Section 91 (1) subsection 2-7 of the Electoral Act 2010, the maximum election expenses to be incurred at a presidential election shall be N1 billion while that of a governorship candidate is N200 million. The Act also pegs the campaign expenses of a senatorial candidate at N40 million while that of a House of Representatives candidate is N20 million. The Act also provides corresponding penalties for those who violate the provisions.