Campaign cash: Politicians turn to the internet

Four years ago, Nigerians were besieged with a then-new campaign trend by various politicians vying for one office or the other. They resorted to social media as a major platform to woo prospective voters to their side. Facebook became the preferred medium aside individual blogs and websites, where their supposed blueprints were unveiled and achievements […]

Four years ago, Nigerians were besieged with a then-new campaign trend by various politicians vying for one office or the other. They resorted to social media as a major platform to woo prospective voters to their side. Facebook became the preferred medium aside individual blogs and websites, where their supposed blueprints were unveiled and achievements and success while holding previous offices advertised. This was very often accompanied by their intentions and laid-out plans for change, development and the usual suspects, if elected into office.
This year, as elections are only about 76 days away, Nigerians are once again besieged with an even newer trend: raising donations or funds via the internet. This way, politicians urge them to ‘Own This Campaign By Funding It!’ as is stated on the website of Bauchi guber aspirant, Yusuf Tuggar.
The new trend appears to be gradually gaining acceptance among loyalists of key players in the Nigerian political scene.
In the U.S, the Obama campaign team began accepting online donations on April 4, 2011, which was the day he announced his candidacy. In the first 24 hours after online donations began to be accepted, over 23,000 donations of N35,710 ($200) or less were made. Many sources claimed that the campaign may be the first in U.S. history to raise more than one billion dollars.
With Nigerian politicians, on the menu bars of most of the websites’ home pages the word ‘donate’ is the first icon that catches the eye. Highlighted in bright colours, attention is immediately drawn to the right top corner of the page were it is positioned. On some platforms, voters have been graded into various categories to guide them on how to make donations accordingly. On some others, they are not led in any particular direction and are free to make whatever donations they can afford to. Still, some, in order to give assurances that their monies will be properly channelled, are advised to buy scratch cards instead, of various sums ranging from N100 to N10, 000.
Yusuf Tuggar, aspiring to be Bauchi’s next governor has grouped potential donors as ‘Grassroot Supporter’ who is expected to donate not less than N10, 000 while a ‘Superior Supporter’ is expected to give no less than N30, 000. Others, ‘Premium Supporter’ is not expected to give less than N100, 000 as a ‘Platinum supporter’ is to donate no less than N200, 000.
Vying for presidency a fourth time running, former military leader, General Muhammadu Buhari is also seeking monetary support via his website and Facebook pages carrying created support groups banners. He, on November 20, via the Facebook page, ‘Buhari 2015’ said: “As we have made it clear, our campaign is going to be funded, planned and run by ordinary Nigerian citizens like you.”
The same post is syndicated on the Facebook post page, ‘General Muhammadu Buhari 2015 Support Group Centre’ with accompanying bank details. Tagged ‘GMB campaign donation cards – please buy & support t the man of the moment’ accompanying photos inscribed with the different scratch card rates set from N100 to N10, 000, scroll continuously at the bottom of the Buhari for change website as supporters are encouraged to make donations.
Urging supporters, publisher-turned-politician Sam Nda-Isaiah’s website said: “Your donations help make this campaigning possible and getting our message out. A donation today will help achieve my Big Ideas and create Change. Together We Can!” On the Sam for Change website, supporters are not guided on any amount to contribute but are required to state their chosen sums, enter their names and email addresses while making online payments.
For Benjamin Gambo, it is a step in the right direction, as the sales representative who spoke to Weekly Trust said: “I’m quite happy our politicians are taking a leaf from Obama’s style. I’m optimistic that it will give us tech-savvy electorates a sense of belonging in the process for those whom we support.”
Azuka Phillips, a Wuse Zone 5 resident, said it is not enough for the politicians to encourage donations. “Many are sceptical to do so because we don’t know where our money will end up. They should make public the amounts they are getting and what sources. Also, if possible, on a weekly basis they should give us an update of what they have done with donations. This will further encourage people to be forthcoming.”
In this light the Buhari campaign team, on the social media platform assured donors of transparency and accountability in managing the donated funds. Buhari would be made the sole signatory to the account and would be responsible for vetting all campaign spending that arises from the contributions. The group added: “Your suggestions are all respectfully noted, and announcements will be made in both print and electronic media regarding this fundraising effort. Our door is open to more innovative suggestions on crowd funding.”
Hamza Ifo suggested that away from money, politicians should make provisions where people can also donate other resources. “Some of the things they need to do, can be listed on their sites and people who specialize in those areas can offer to do some of them. This, I believe will take away the lack of trust from public,” he said.
Weekly Trust discovered that supporters are at first reluctant to come forward and make contributions. Questions such as the reason aspirants resorted to online alternative instead of the physical donation that was hitherto the norm; criteria used for categorisation of donors; the age limit of donors, whether corporations can also participate; authenticity of the source of funds donated; as well as modalities for managing the funds amongst others, were raised.   
On the modalities in place to ensure that the funds are not mismanaged, General Buhari told Weekly Trust via Facebook that there will be no case of funds mismanagement, “Because I am the only signatory to the bank account. Every donor’s money that goes out must be approved by me.” He also said that he is keeping tabs on donors. “I have also instructed the bank to make it possible for each donor to be documented and sent to us and if there is any doubt or a questionable character, we will refund the money to the donor. We do not need corrupt money to change Nigeria.”
On his part, Yusuf Tuggar said he resorted to the online method because of the cumbersome nature of physical donation. “So the IT department of my campaign organisation came up with the idea of online donations which allows anyone from anywhere to donate easily, and allows us to keep a better record,” he explained. He said the process enhances trust in the people as they will hold the aspirant more accountable. “By doing this, our campaign now belongs to the people of Bauchi State, they own this campaign now and no other campaign can make such a proud statement,” he noted.
On why donors are categorised as they are, Tuggar said: “We realised that it is always easier to guide people rather than leave things arbitrary, that is why we created those categories. Most of our online donors are supporters who are into tech, relatively young (generally below 40), and employed. Of course other people who do not fall into these categories support our campaign in other ways.” He added that the team does not accept donation from corporations. “Our campaign is strictly for the people.” But on modalities for managing funds, the aspirant differs from General Buhari as he said multiple signatories are required before any funds can be withdrawn.
Idayat Hassan, Director of the Centre for Democracy and Development (CDD) a civil society organisation said the recourse to online donations by politicians seeking offices in Nigeria was a welcome, legitimate development, noting that the move is reminiscent of the Obama campaign. “One of the characters of politics and elections in Nigerian is the lack of attention to fundraising and membership drive, giving room for the godfather to emerge as kingmaker, as they fund the elections and determine who gets into office at the expense of the people.”
Hassan agreed that the gesture will promote democratic accountability as the electorate can hold the elected accountable even after elections, but she expressed fears that the channel could become another way for third-party spending if not properly monitored.
Hassan said in the 2011 general elections, INEC (Independent National Electoral Commission) admitted it  did not have in place a desk to monitor campaign financing, “So we obviously expected no reports on campaign spending in the 2011 general elections.”
“Now in this election,” she said, “INEC had put in place mechanisms in all its offices in the 774 local government areas to monitor campaign spending but the fact still remains that the Commission is bugged with other responsibilities and may be incapacitated in these regards. So we are still not certain if they will monitor and enforce the laws on campaign financing in these elections.”
However, Hassan said, the limit for individual contribution on campaign is N1 million according to section 91(9) of the  Electoral Act 2010 as amended, but that in the history of Nigerian elections particularly in the last 15 years, “Nobody has been brought to book for breaching rules on campaign finance.” She said the electoral act itself is even flawed, saying, while political parties are obliged to report to INEC over funding, candidates are not. She said campaign financing does not get the requisite attention deserved. “It is like we forget the fact that without a level playing field, the election itself is compromised.”
Hassan revealed that CDD would be monitoring campaign financing in the 2015 elections. “We are deploying observers to monitor financing in select governorship election, presidential election and also work towards the enforcement of these laws. We are doing this with our partner, the International Republican Institute (IRI).”
INEC spokesperson, Mr. Kayode Idowu who spoke to Weekly Trust via phone said: “I have to confirm the position of the law because I do not recall any clause in the law that speaks about this.” On the Commission’s website between Section 90 to 99 as recommended by Idowu for verification, on the Electoral Act, and the ‘Political Party Finance Manual’, there were no specific guidelines regarding funding for aspirants. But on the internet, the donation bowls continue to clang, even if no-one knows for sure how much is being raised by potential donors. Technology is there for politicians to utilise and they are doing just that.