Workshop Training for Journalists/Media Reporters

Workshop Training for Journalists/Media Reporters Organized by Independent Advocacy Project (IAP) in collaboration with OneVOICE coalition, with the support of National Endowment for Democracy, Washington DC, April 19 2016

Keynote Address from IAP Executive Director

For several years in Nigeria and other democracies, there has been a debate as to what constitutes Political Finance. The tone and nuance of the debate differ from one country to the other based on each country’s peculiar experiences. Advocates of Transparency and Accountability have sought to locate the debate within the framework of domestic (for example in Nigeria, in the 2011 Electoral Law as amended), international and regional anti-corruption instruments such as the United Nations Convention Against Corruption (UNCAC)  and African Union Convention on Preventing and Combating Corruption. Indeed, in Nigeria’s peculiar experience, there is a growing deficit of trust in political actors and processes with respect to political finance, especially against the backdrop of various looting of state treasury ($2.1 bn by NSA Dasuki & others; CDS Badeh’s #3,9 bn Air force money and various monies from NNPC accounts) and diversion of same to fund election campaigns, Nigerian citizens, particularly civil society organizations and other non-state actors are demanding for more transparency and accountability in public life. Indeed, there are concerns on risks to the independence of political actors including elected officials and public office holders as well as risks of conflicts of interest, even undue influence and corruption, related to money in the political arena.

The Nigerian civil society found out that at the root of grand political corruption lays high level opaque political finance that not only inhibits economic growth and development but also takes away from the electorates the right to freely choose those who govern them.

The role of donors, both business and individuals, raises concerns over the operation of representative government. The World Bank has identified ‘illegal political finance’ as one of the six dimensions of the ‘state capture phenomenon.’ Those seeking to implement anti-corruption reforms cannot ignore the control of flows of money into and out of politics. Unregulated political finance presents specific problems for Nigeria’s democracy in that it fails to provide a framework in which candidates and political parties can compete on equal terms.

So, why is the debate on political finance important? What is political finance transparency? Does it matter? What are the consequences of lack of political finance transparency? How does it impact on the ability of political office holders, both elected and appointed, to fulfill their electoral promises? Who stands to gain from lack of political finance regulation? Who loses? How does it impact on the political processes in Nigeria? What is the position of politicians, anti-corruption advocates, human rights activists, media practitioners and other non-governmental actors?

This was what led Independent Advocacy Project (IAP) to embark on Political Finance Transparency and Accountability Project to provide a platform for all sides of the debate in Nigeria: (a) those advocating for regulation of political party finance and campaign expenses, even of candidates standing for elections; (b) those who believe this should be left to the ‘market place’ to decide; (c) those who think government regulation of any kind is unnecessary or undesirable; and (d) those who simply want to get their views across.

This project is of two year cycle whereby the OUTCOMES of the first year are:

Through the PFT project we were able to ensure effective monitoring, from a non-governmental organization perspective, of sources of incomes including campaign funds of political parties and candidates. We also monitored election expenses by political parties and candidates.

In the course of our research and interactions with various stakeholders, it became clear that, for various reasons, INEC was unable to investigate the sources of funding for the campaigns, publish the reports; and impose sanction for violations of the electoral law. Regrettably, the electoral body often failed to assert itself amid recurring perversions of the law by the political elite.

Broadly, the project was able to elicit high level interest by Nigerian civil society groups on political finance transparency, integrity and accountability and INEC is being put under intense pressure and there are now calls for the creation of a new agency that would be responsible for monitoring political parties and candidates on political finance. The new agency will audit and publish accounts of political parties; and generally enforce compliance of campaign spending limits in accordance with the electoral law.

Our research also found that INEC has been:

-      Unable to access and audit accounts of political parties

-      Unable to make its own reports public

-      Unable to control or discipline state Resident Electoral Commissioners who were usually appointed by the presidency and many of whom were partisan during the 2015 general elections.

-      Unable to secure financial autonomy and get statutory allocations

-      Unable to punish or prosecute electoral offenders etc.

Therefore, this Workshop Training for Journalists is being conducted to consolidate and communicate policy positions of key political actors on political finance challenges. Also, it is to enable civil society groups partner, network and form alliance with the Nigerian media to compel the National Assembly to initiate the necessary reforms

As media practitioners, it is expected that through this interactive training, you will learn and be well informed on the evils/consequences associated with corruption of the electoral system through political finance corruption (i.e illegal sources of campaign funds through reckless looting of state treasury and money laundering from proceeds of crimes) that tilts the election outcome in favour of the political party or candidate with big cash that was deployed to influence electoral officials, law enforcement agents, polling agents and numerous voters. Eventually, the best and most credible candidates are not elected, making the country to lose some of its best leaders.

Secondly, the training will afford the journalists and other participants to form alliance, network and partnership on the best practices to move Nigeria forward based on transparency, accountability and integrity.

Thirdly, an e-desk will be established to facilitate open communication and feedback systems among participants and other stakeholders on political finance transparency.

Be that as it may, IAP Research Team in 2015 came to the conclusion that Money in politics is everyone´s concern it is vital in democratic systems. It enables citizens to organize political parties, helps to train new leaders and is used to present government proposals in election races. Without money in politics, those in power would have an advantage over potential candidates, thereby minimizing the chances for another party to take office. In other words, money is a necessary element for democracies and political parties to run smoothly, but only as long as financing is transparent, properly accounted for, fully publicly disclosed and subject to effective governmental and social oversight mechanisms

Therefore, I ask you ALL, both civil society practitioners and journalists, When is money in politics a problem? Money may come into conflict with the democratic principles of civic equality and fair competition in elections and can also undermine political representation.

For example

1. When the availability of resources becomes a decisive factor in winning elections instead of candidate proposals.
2. When money contributed to electoral campaigns safeguards private interests and inhibits political parties and candidates representing collective interests to communicate their ideas.
3. When a party in office uses the system and the resources of the State for the benefit of the electoral campaigns of its candidates.
4. When companies contribute to electoral campaigns in exchange for future favours from elected representatives.
5. When illegal groups, such as organized crime, drug-trafficking or other armed groups, support candidates who in performing their duties will represent illegal interests.
6. When resources used to fund electoral campaigns are raised individually by candidates and not by their parties, thereby creating the risk of personal commitment on the part of the candidate to the donor.
7. When candidates use financial resources for inappropriate purposes, such as vote purchasing or other forms of unfair competition.
8. When elected representatives have, in general, a greater commitment to donors than to the public.
9. When representatives use their post and attendant government resources to gain re-election.
10. When civic equality, reflected in the principle of each individual having one vote, is undermined by the unwarranted ability of some to contribute money to politics.

These conflicts affect the legitimacy of elected representatives as well as their ability to develop rules aimed to benefit the public. The negative impact of such on the quality of life of the people multiplies and the democratic system as a whole stands to lose credibility.

How do transparency and accountability help counter this problem?

Shining a light on political financing is the best way to clean house. When parties and candidates disclose information about funds used to finance their activities, both during electoral campaigns and generally, scrutiny of illegal funds and influence peddling in politics is facilitated.

All politicians as well as the parties and groups that support them are either legally or morally required to report to the public. The accuracy and usefulness of reports will increase to the extent that they are fully disclosed to the public and to the media. Reports should be clear, complete, presented on time and reliable.

It is no coincidence that the transparency of resources linked to political financing is recognized as a universal principle in the United Nations Convention against Corruption (UNCAC).

Why should citizens be informed about political financing?

Knowing the sources of funding used to finance electoral campaigns enables citizens to determine the financial interests that support candidates. This way, citizens are better equipped to cast their vote and monitor the activities of their representatives once elected. During the electoral process, citizens can reject any candidates whose campaign relies on a donor with a given profile, such as, for example, if funds are contributed by drug barons or polluting industries. It is therefore important for such information to be made public prior to elections. At the same time, it will be easier after the elections to determine if a donor company is being favoured, for example, in public contracting processes.

Ultimately, voters should seek to stay informed about the sources of funding for political parties and candidates. Only by doing so will they ensure that their interests are better represented.

What can citizens committed to democracy do?

Transparency is the cornerstone of civic involvement to monitor the effects of money in politics. Citizens must demand greater transparency from political parties and candidates in their funding practices and greater commitment from electoral oversight bodies in performing their duties. In other words, citizens must demand transparency and use their votes to punish those who fail to disclose.

In Nigeria with an Access to Information Law or a law governing political parties and campaign financing requiring the public disclosure of information, citizens, CSOs and Media have a legal right to know about party and candidate funding. Nevertheless, this does not guarantee that unfettered access to information exists in practice. We must have the Nigerian media committed to covering this issue, specialized non-governmental organizations and an active citizenry that requests this information from authorities exerting pressure for the system to become more transparent.

In conclusion, I urge you Journalists to imbibe the best that this training offers you and henceforth work collaboratively with us and other stakeholders (through this project) to raise awareness among the general electorate, mobilize Nigerians against political corruption by building coalitions between civil society and government, thereby strengthening efforts to fight political corruption. By coming together in coalitions, stakeholders from government and civil society can coordinate their efforts, pool resources, establish priorities, speak with a more authoritative voice on the need for reform, and strengthen each other’s commitment to the work.

Many thanks for your kind attention

Pastor Adedeji Adeleye

Executive Director, IAP and Chair, OneVoice Media Committee