By Harry Awurumibe, Editor, Abuja Bureau
Former National Chairman of defunct Young Democratic Party (YDP), Arc. Ezekiel Nya-Etok has accused Nigerian banks of conniving with political parties and unscrupulous politicians to perpetuate electoral fraud.
He alleged that Nigerian banks are known to work hand-in-gloves with politicians to circumvent the Elections Campaign Fund law.
Nya-Etok who is the Director General, Nigeria First Project made this allegation on Thursday while speaking on Channels Television breakfast programme Sunrise Daily on the controversy trailing the Electoral Act Amendment Bill currently with the National Assembly (NASS).
According to him: “It’s a known fact that Nigerian banks help to corrupt the electoral processes as it regards Election Campaign Funds, they have the books and help politicians and political parties manipulate figures to suit purposes of accounting for election finances or expenditures”.
“Banks connive with political parties and unscrupulous politicians to hide Campaign finances, they will help you to navigate the landmines”
“Also, whenever the banks perceive a particular candidate in the Governorship and Presidential elections is likely to emerge winner they will approach the candidate with offer of huge funds and when the candidate wins, he will order that government’s finances be domiciled in a particular banks, he alleged further.
Nya-Etok who is currently a registered member of African Democratic Congress (ADC), insists that such underhand practices by Nigerian banks corrupt the electoral processes.
The former Governorship candidate of YDP in the 2019 gubernatorial election in Akwa Ibom state however said he will like to see the increase in Campaign Finances because the candidates and political parties need huge amount of money to run a successful campaign.
Meanwhile, his co-panelist on the television programme, Yunusa Tanko disagreed with Nya-Etok on the Campaign Funds capping, saying the alleged increase of Campaign Expenditures in the proposed new bill will further corrupt the electoral processes.
Tanko, former Presidential candidate of National Conscience Party (NCP) insists that money politics is doing more harm than good to Nigeria and Nigerians.
Said he: “If the increase in the Campaign Expenditures being proposed by NASS are allowed to sail through, the country will be the worst for it because money-bags will hijack the electoral processes”.
