Let the truth be told and facts separated from mere beliefs

It saddens me anytime I read about the donation of 21billion naira for the re-election of President Goodluck Ebele Jonathan and the accompanying comments from Nigerians and particularly some Nigerian students who believe that the law has been violated.

However, as a penultimate law student who is well grounded in the intricacies of law, I have deemed it fit to put an end to this campaign of calumny.

Don't get me wrong, I am not a supporter of GEJ as I personally do not want him, I, on the other hand, do not expect those who have been clamouring for the highest office in the land to do so by deceiving Nigerians who may not have the arsenal of knowledge available at their disposal.

I, Olugbemi Olukayode, do make bold to say without any fear of reprisal that the donation of 21billion naira to either the PDP or GEJ's campaign is not a violation of the law.

The Electoral Act, 2010 which is what still governs elections in Nigeria stipulates in Section 91 (1-7) that

'91. -(1) Election expenses shall not exceed the sum stipulated in subsection (2) – (7) of this section.

(2) The maximum election expenses to be incurred by a candidate at a Presidential election shall be one billion naira (N1,000,000,000).

(3) The maximum election expenses to be incurred by a candidate at a Governorship election shall be two hundred million naira (N200,000,000).

(4) The maximum amount of election expenses to be incurred in respect of Senatorial seat by a candidate at an election to the National Assembly shall be forty million naira (N40,000,000) while the seat for House of Representatives shall be twenty million naira (N20,000,000)

(5) In the case of State Assembly election, the maximum amount of election expenses to be incurred shall be ten million naira (N10,000,000).

(6) In the case of a chairmanship election to an Area Council, the maximum amount of election expresses to be incurred shall be ten million naira (N10,000,000).

(7) In the case of councillorship election to an Area Council, the maximum amount of election expenses to be incurred shall be one million naira (N1,000, 000).

Hence, what amounts to a violation of the law is when the expenses incurred exceeds 1billion naira and not when they generate in excess.

From a simple accounting knowledge, we know that there is a great difference between Income and Expenditure, hence, the APC should kindly not mislead the people. If you are to lead the nation, possibly in 2015, you should garner your votes through accurate dissemination of truthful information and not falsehood neither should they tell INEC to prosecute the PDP when it is clear that they haven't violated the law.

Similarly, in section 93(4) of the same Act, the law stipulates that

'4) Every political party sponsoring the election of a candidate shall, within three months after the announcement of the results of the election, file a report of the contributions made by individuals and entities to the Commission.

Hence, the commission shall check if they have violated the law. Thus, in order not to promote falsehood, it is important that the APC wait till such report is submitted to INEC before raising unnecessary dust.

To our brothers and sisters who are supporting any political party, it is important that we disseminate only the right information at all times. To those who are clamouring for GMB, kindly make a choice between voting for him and the INEC ad-hoc job you all registered for. To those clamouring for GEJ, kindly do so in all civility and modesty.

In all, Nigeria belongs to all of us, let us treat it as a collective inheritance and not as a private business.

I still believe that if we start doing the right things now, Nigeria will be the world's most desirable nation to live in by 31st December, 2025.

God bless the Federal Republic of Nigeria

*Yawns#

What can we do than to agree with this long epistle.....

oga jona 2015

We need an independent regulatory body to check political campaign and its excesses.

*facepalm*
how dis one take change wetin we don sabi b4
Come 2015, Jonathan returns to Otuoke as chief priest of his people...

Land for sale

Nigerians are the problem of Nigeria! Any way you paint it, it is morally wrong to make such financial pledges in an ailing nation like Nigeria where the sufferation speak volumes. this is nothing but daylight rape of our motherland, my signature tells better

cool

post=29233442:
Rubbish

GMB till 2099

Very optimistic fellow!

The guy is high on xmas food.

The struggle for 2015 is getting stiff day by day.

You must be aspiring charge and bail lawyer. You are the defendant as well as the judge. That's why many people think lawyers are liars. So the money generated will be kept in a museum. Smh

OK thanks for enlightening those APC supporters.... Who think with their mouths.....as a matter of fact GMB and GEJ aren't really different. They both lack defining ideologies....but that doesn't mean I won't vote. Actually I will just be voting for my own personal preference based on no other reason than my love for GEJ.

When people call black white...it reflects who they are on the inside...

I doubt if op knows that 21 is greater 1 and that 1 is less than 21. He must had failed arithmetic woeful in school!

This wasn't enlightening

OP is screaming for Reno's attention. With a piece like this, you've definitely got it

OP,the thunder that will fire you eh... Is warming up at National Stadium!
Who even brought the nonsense thread to FP?

....Nothing wrong with it...how will something be wrong when those that gave will certainly...surely..receive in good measure...pressed down...running over will the national treasury give to their pockets.Thieves.

Thanks op.
before you criticised a group of people you need to understand y they do sth. Truth be told the electoral Acts of the sections 91 provided a guide line for the max amount a party can use to sponsor election and if the amount are calculated from presidency to the councillors it goes far above the 21billion naira.
1. but, are the government sensitive at this period to use such a money for election when our economy is plummeting?
2. Madam minister came to announced to us of the austerity period in January yet her party want to waste such amount for election?
3. What are the source of income of the people who donated the money?
4. Imagine our state of power supply n the crazy bill from PHCN yet they donated 500millions n they came to announced to us there will be increase in bill next year! After the donations(r we paying back in proxy?)
5. At the time the oil revenue is going down the oil industry donated 5billions that is to tell you they don't pay tax in full.
TO TELL YOU THE FACT THE TIMING IS WRONG FOR SUCH INSENSITIVE DONATIONS.
Gej is his own enemy!!!
he created the space for him to be crucified n he's begging for SYMPATHY VOTE like in 2011
After all he had gotten a shoe did he need polish again? brb
run to dust my voters card for GMB!

berem:
OP,the thunder that will fire you eh... Is warming up at National Stadium!
Who even brought the nonsense thread to FP?

The one that will strike you is still heating up in a burning furnace. Clueless APShits. Association of Paralyzed Confusionist.

Brainwashed OP

post=29233442:
Rubbish

GMB till 2099

then your future is at stake(if you have any)

Wonders shall never end

venomous:
OK thanks for enlightening those APC supporters.... Who think with their mouths.....as a matter of fact GMB and GEJ aren't really different. They both lack defining ideologies....but that doesn't mean I won't vote. Actually I will just be voting for my own personal preference based on no other reason than my love for GEJ.

The confused Osibanjo who is meant to face God's work decides to soil his hands in politics. He has chose to dine with the devil.

"Section 91 (9) of the Electoral Act stipulates that an individual or other entity shall not donate more than N1, 000,000.00 to any candidate.

It is as clear as the crystal that all those individuals, groups of individuals and companies that donated more than N1 Million towards the campaign of President Jonathan have contravened Section 91 (9) of the Electoral Act.

Section 91 (10) of the Electoral Act says that candidate who knowingly acts in contravention of this section commits an offence and on conviction is liable in the case of Presidential election, to a maximum fine of N1, 000,000.00 or imprisonment for a term of 12 months or both."



Question is should a President watch his citizens flout extants of a constitution he swore to protect and applaud them in his speech?

These are the youths we say must take over leadership from the old folks. The Mr-Know-It-All lawyer to be who wrote this smartly quoted extant portions which favours his argument and leaves the above in a bid to justify his jaundiced neutral-non-Jonathan position. The law was flouted with gross impunity but as usual we will move on. The ruling party in Nigeria will never do no wrong. There are always hordes of unsolicited beggars-for-alms Nigerians who will come to their defence.