AJAG Article

Abstract

Funding of political parties and elections in Nigeria remains contentious, particularly regarding funding
sources and their implications for governance. Although previous studies have examined political party
financing and its consequences, limited attention has been paid to the constitutional framework governing
political party funding and its implications for governance. This study addresses this gap by analysing the
constitutional provisions regulating political party funding and assessing their implications for good
governance in Nigeria. Data were obtained from primary and secondary sources. Primary data comprised
the author's observations and Key Informant Interviews with an academic, journalist, lawyer, human
rights activist, businessman, student and community leader selected through convenience sampling.
Secondary data were drawn from official government documents, textbooks, academic journals,
newspapers, and internet sources. The findings revealed that the 1999 Constitution of the Federal
Republic of Nigeria (as amended) and the Electoral Act 2022 prescribe legitimate sources of political
party funding and sanctions for violations, yet these provisions are frequently breached with little or no
enforcement. Consequently, illicit political financing entrenches money politics and elite domination of
political parties, undermines democratic accountability, and weakens governance processes. The study
concludes that effective enforcement of political finance regulations is indispensable for strengthening
electoral integrity, restoring public trust, and improving the quality of democratic governance in Nigeria.

POLITICAL PARTIES, ELECTORAL FUNDING AND GOVERNANCE IN NIGERIA’S FOURTH REPUBLIC, 2026, Vol. 4, No. 1, pp. 91-100. PDF