In Political Party Financing and Electoral Politics in Nigeria’s Fourth Republic, Babayo Sule provides a detailed analysis of the process of political party financing in Nigeria from 1999 to the present. Sule links the party financing process with the electoral process and explores issues of democratic accountability, transparency, and corruption in Nigeria under democratic rule. Issues of excessive spending, violation of legal procedures for party financing and monitoring of parties’ activities, particularly, finances are explored. The book presents an analytical discourse on elections and processes that influence an election in Nigeria’s Fourth Republic in which party financing and money politics are instrumental. This book observes how political corruption gains root in the process of party financing and builds a theory linking party financing, electoral politics, and democratic accountability. This book provides practical policy implications for strengthening Nigeria’s electoral process and transparency in its democracy.

Elections and Governance in Nigeria’s Fourth Republic is a book about Nigerian politics, governance and democracy. It at once encompasses Nigeria’s post-colonial character, its political economy, party formation since independence, the role of Electoral Commissions, as well as, indepth analyses of the 1999, 2003 and 2007 general elections that involved extensive fieldwork. It also presents aspects of the 2011 and 2015 general elections, while discussing the state of democratic consolidation, and lessons learned for achieving good governance in the country. It is indeed, a must read for students of politics, academics, politicians, statesmen and policy makers, and in fact, stakeholders in the Nigerian democracy project. The book stands out as a well-researched and rich documentary material about elections in Nigeria, and the efforts so far made in growing democracy.

Political parties play key role in representative government by nominating candidates for contest to offices, running governments when they are the ruling party, or holding governments accountable when they are in the opposition. Since the representative democracy began politicians have struggled to develop ways of financing political competition that enhance democratic process without putting at risk key values of democracy. The ability of money to enhance the democratic process has recently dominated discuss at both National and international levels in attempt to regulate political party finance and minimize the use of funds from corrupt sources. This work examined the legal framework for the regulation of political party finances; a comparative study between Nigeria and the United States of America. This work wasmotivated by the need to compare the regulation political party finances in Nigeria and America and suggest possible improvement of the extant legal framework for better regulation of political party finances and development of a good political culture in Nigeria and the United States of America. The research methodology adopted in this research is the doctrinal approach which denotes paying attention to theory as opposed to practice. This work found that the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria 1999 (as amended) and the Electoral Act 2010 (as amended) are the main laws regulating political party finances in Nigeria.The Tillman Act 1907, Federal Corrupt Practices Act 1910, Federal Election Campaign Act 1971 and the Bipartisan Campaign Reform Act 2002 are the legal framework for regulation political party finances in America. This work also found that the Independent National Electoral Commission is the body that regulates political party finances in Nigeria, the Federal Election Commission is the body that regulate political party finances in America. This work found that the major sources of political party funds in Nigeria are members' dues, contributions from members and borrowing. This work also found that in America, member's dues and contribution from members and non-members of the political party and public funds given to political parties by government are the major sources of funds for political parties. This research also found that the source of income of political parties effects the development of a good political culture. This research recommended the urgently amendment of the Constitution of the federal republic of Nigeria 1999 (as amended) and the Electoral Act 2010 (as amended) to make provisions that political parties shall not sponsor candidates for elections without submitting comprehensive report of compliance to legal framework for regulation of political party finances.This work also recommended that a different body aside the Independent National Electoral Commission called 'Political Party Regulatory Commission' be created for the regulation of political party generally in Nigeria for effective monitoring, tracking, regulation and enforcement of legal framework for regulation political party finances. Lastly, this work also recommended that the Constitution of the United States of America be amended to provide for emergence political party and regulation of political parties finances to harmonies the numerous court rulings on the regulations of political party finances.

This book investigates whether legislative institutions, state and national, in Nigeria’s Fourth Republic have been able to harness constitutional powers to impact public policy. Presenting how the Nigerian state has not been able to showcase the expected dividends of presidential democracy since 1999, it analyzes the crisis of governance and its impact on political stability, social cohesion, and the livelihood of citizens. The book further discusses the depreciating infrastructure, corruption, and mismanagement of public resources, and shows how defiant attitudes of public political and bureaucratic officials define the new wave of corruption and profligacy in Nigeria, presenting this development as a result of a weakened legislature. The book displays the necessity of implementing a culture of accountability and discusses oversight mechanisms to make the executive accountable. These mechanisms are designed to ensure effective public service delivery. Finally, the book situates the legislative institutions in Nigeria within the context of the contributions of the National Assembly and the Assemblies of the State Houses to the development of this emerging democracy in Africa. The book will appeal to students and scholars of political science and public administration, as well as policy-makers and practitioners interested in a better understanding of democracy, separation of powers, governance, and Nigerian politics.

On cover & title page: Integrated project "Making democratic institutions work"

This handbook provides a general description of the different models of political finance regulations and analyses the relationship between party funding and effective democracy. The most important part of the book is an extensive matrix on political finance laws and regulations for about 100 countries. Public funding regulations, ceilings on campaign expenditure, bans on foreign donations and enforcing an agency are some of the issues covered in the study. Includes regional studies and discusses how political funding can affect women and men differently, and the delicate issue of monitoring, control and enforcement of political finance laws.