The Transition Monitoring Group (TMG) has blasted APC and PDP aspirants for cornering dollars meant for Nigerians and businesses as politicians continue to outdo one another in getting their parties’ tickets to contest in the 2023 general elections. 

“Already, we are experiencing a dollarisation of the economy due to ongoing primaries by politicians which ought not to be the case. Normal citizens and businesspersons can’t get dollars because the politicians have taken over the forex allocation to citizens,” lamented TMG boss Auwal Rafsanjani. “This dirty money in politics sidelines competent individuals who have the capacity to rule but have no funds or godfather(s) to provide them with these funds.”

According to the TMG boss, the use of money openly by politicians seeking votes from delegates “goes to show that political actors are ready to influence the choice of the delegates.” 

“Already, if you look at the huge sums being spent across both parties for nomination forms, you will realise that it is set up to exclude those who don’t have huge funds most of which are likely stolen,” noted Mr Rafsanjani. 

The TMG boss added, “There are laws guiding this process and political parties, aspirants and candidates should adhere to them. These actions should be in accordance with the relevant laws guiding these processes. The anti-graft agencies like the Nigerian Financial Intelligence Unit (NFIU) need to also  investigate Suspicious Transaction Reports (STRs) filed by banks to ensure that they are in line with the Know Your Customer (KYC) and Customer Due Diligence (CDD) requirements.”

Mr Rafsanjani further stated that this would ensure that the sources of funds used by the politicians were genuine.

“Overtime, this creates what I will call a vicious cycle where politicians will spend money on campaigns and then get into office and recoup these funds. Nobody will use thousands of dollars to bribe a delegate and not abuse office to get these funds back. It is a business and in the end, it is citizens who will suffer,” stated the TMG leader.

He called on INEC to ensure that political parties submit their financial details as required by the Nigerian Constitution.

“Finally, I will like to call on citizens to ensure that they vote competence ahead of money. They should look at the track record and capacity of candidates as against the money offered,” he said. 

(NAN)