Magu made this known yesterday in Abuja, while presenting a paper at a one-day retreat for 36 state governors and key election stakeholders.
The retreat, with the theme: “Institutionalizing Transparency, Accountability and Anti-Corruption Issues in The Electoral Process In Nigeria”, was organized by Centre for Values In Leadership,(CVL).
Magu, who spoke through the commission’s secretary, Olanipekun Olukoyede, said, “we shall keenly monitor the financial affairs of political parties to ensure that the use of public funds to finance political parties and prosecute campaigns at all levels of government is checked”.
He assured that henceforth, donations to political parties and the identities of the donors will be of massive interest to the Commission going forward.
“To minimize corruption and the use of public funds to fund political parties and finance elections, there is need for greater effectiveness in enforcing the provisions of the various electoral laws in Nigeria especially as it relates to penalties upon breach of their provisions.
“Political parties should be required to keep proper records of all incomes, contributions and expenditure, and to open their books for inspection by relevant security agencies after every electioneering cycle”, Magu said.
He continued; “In addition, politicians prosecuting campaigns must be required to keep proper records of all donations received by them including the identities of the donors; and to turn their books over to relevant security agencies and to INEC for inspection after every electioneering cycle, including the costs of litigations arising from the elections and the source of funding for the litigations”.
In his opening remarks, Rasheed Adegbenro, Senior Vice President, (CVL) said the forum which began in Lagos was meant to sensitize the electorate on the coming elections.
Also speaking, Ibrahim Idris, the Inspector General of Police, who was represented by CP Kenneth Ebrimson, gave assurance that the Nigerian Police Force will ensure that the 2019 elections are free and fair.(Leadership).