Private Funding of Political Parties in Nigeria: Implications to National Development, 2001–2010

Private Funding of Political Parties in Nigeria: Implications to National Development, 2001–2010.

ABSTRACT

The study examined the implications of private funding of political parties to national development in Nigeria, 2001-2010. The specific objectives of the study were to:

(i) as certain the rationale for private funding of political parties, (ii) determine the sources of funds to political parties,

(iii) identify the level of electoral fraud/rigging that occurs to ensure that private funders of political parties do not lose,

(iv) verify the implications of private funding of political parties to national development and (v) determine the solutions to private funding of political parties in Nigeria.

The study was a survey, carried out in Imo State. There were 27 Local Government Areas with a population of over 4.8 million. A simple random sampling method was applied to selecting 15 local governments and 300 respondents. Data was gathered through primary and secondary sources.

The primary sources include questionnaire and interview, while secondary source were books, journal, newspapers, magazine, etc. data was analysed using the statistical package for social science to determine the percentage and mean sources.

The study found that private funding of political parties was an arrangement for members of a political party to help fund her activities and reduce the dependency of parties on government.

The source of funds to political parties were found to include sponsorship by influential individuals of the party, membership dues, government grants to political parties, levy from office holders/elected members of the party and fund raising dinners by members.

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TABLE OF CONTENTS

Title Page       i

Certification           ii

Dedication        iii

Acknowledgement       iv

Abstract            v

Table of Contents.             vi

List of Tables           vii

Chapter One: Introduction 

• Background to the Study 1
• Statement of the Problem 6
• Objectives of the Study 9
• Significance of the Study 10
• Scope and Limitations of the Study 10

Chapter Two: Literature Review and Methodology 

• Literature Review 12
  • Conceptual Clarification 12

• The rationale for private funding of political 16
• The Sources of funding to political 18
• The level of electoral fraud/rigging that occurs private 19
• The implications of private funding to national development 25
• The solutions to the problems of private funding of political Parties.     32

• Synthesis of the Review and Gap in Existing Literature 35

• Hypotheses 36
• Operationalisation of key concepts 36
• Methodology 37
  • Research Design 37
  • Area of the Study 38
  • Sources of Data 38
  • Population of the Study 39
  • Sample Size 39
  • Sample Procedure 40
  • Validity and Reliability of Instrument 40
  • Method of Data Analysis 41

Chapter Three: Background Information of the Study Area 

3.1 Background Information of the case study area  45

Chapter Four: Data Presentation, Findings and Discussion of Findings

• Data Presentation 50
• Findings of the Study 60
• Discussion of Findings 65

Chapter Five: Summary, Conclusion and Recommendations

• Summary 71
• Recommendations 74
• Conclusion 76

Bibliography       79

Appendices      83

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INTRODUCTION

Background Of Study

In most countries of the world, there is reliance on private funding of political parties for their campaigns and other party activities. A political party is an organization that typically seeks to influence government policy, usually by nominating their own candidates and trying to seat them in political office, (Jones, 2009:34).

Fund is crucial in the management of any political parties, if they are to achieve their objective. Fund is sourced from different areas, and the management of such resources is important for the good of that organization.The electoral law and policies of any nations spells out the mode and sources of funding to political parties.

Political parties are funded by contributions from party members, individuals and organizations which share their political ideas or who stand to benefit from their activities or governmental public funding, (Wikipedia, 2010:1).

Many parties in Africa impose a compulsory levy, usually a percentage of salary, on party functionaries and occupants of certain positions of state, such as members of parliament and ambassadors, (Saffu, 2002:3).

Another source of private funding for political parties, which several legislations on the continent specifically mention as permitted according to Saffu,(2002:3), “Is fund raising activities, from fund raising dinners and dances and auctions to running companies and owning properties for letting”.

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BIBLIOGRAPHY

Black, J. and Champman, D. (1976). Method and Issues in Social Research. New York: JOHN wiley and Sons.
Dye, T. R. (2000). Top Down Policymaking. New House Publishers Booysen, S. and Masterson, G. (2009). Compendium of Elections in Southern
Africa 1989-2009: 20 Years of Multiparty Democracy. Johannesburg: EISA.
Domhoff, G. W. (1967). Who Rules America? New York: McGraw-Hill
Duru, E. (2009). National Development Policy: The Outcome in developing Nations. Lagos: New Life Press.
Ejituwu, C.N. (1997). Electoral Processes and Governance: Election Rigging in USA and Nigeria, Lagos: University of Lagos Press.