SERAP Tells Tinubu, Atiku, Others To Declare Assets, Shun Vote-Buying

The Socio-Economic Rights and Accountability Project (SERAP) has warned presidential candidates for all the political parties in the country to declare their assets and liabilities before the 2023 general election.
The group, in an open letter to all presidential candidates ahead of the February 2023 presidential election, also urged them to publicly commit to rejecting vote-buying and electoral bribery before and during the elections.
The organisation said, “While there is no constitutional requirement for presidential candidates to publish their assets and liabilities before elections, doing so would show that you can stand up for transparency in assets declaration by public officers if elected”.
In the open letter dated June 11, 2022, and signed by SERAP Deputy Director, Kolawole Oluwadare, SERAP urged the presidential candidates to focus their campaigns on what they will do about issues of public interest, particularly with respect to integrity, selflessness, openness, accountability, human rights, and the rule of law if elected.
“The public office is a public trust. As such, the voters deserve to hear from presidential candidates regarding what they will do about issues of public interest, particularly with respect to integrity, selflessness, openness, accountability, human rights, and the rule of law if elected”, it said.
The letter read in part: “As you and your parties prepare for presidential election campaigns, we hope that you will seize the opportunity to show your commitment to addressing these fundamental issues of public interest by immediately publishing details of your assets and rejecting vote-buying, intimidation and harassment.
“Publicly committing to these issues will also show the voters that if elected, you would act solely to protect the public interest; and avoid placing yourself under any obligation to people or organisations that might try inappropriately to influence you in the discharge of your constitutional duties.
“It would also show that you would be accountable to the public for your actions and submit yourself to the scrutiny necessary to ensure this.
“Your public commitment to these issues will also demonstrate to the voters that if elected you would act and take decisions in an open and transparent manner, and that you would not withhold information from the public unless there are clear and lawful reasons for so doing”.
SERAP accused successive governments and state governors of persistently failing to explain to Nigerians how they spend security votes meant to ensure the security and welfare of Nigerians.
“In fact, the misuse and embezzlement of public funds in the name of security votes is widely recognised as a major cause of the ongoing security challenges in several parts of the country”, it alleged.
It, therefore, urged the candidates to publicly commit themselves to “probing the spending of security votes since the return of democracy in 1999, and widely publishing details of spending of security votes; finding the missing N11trillion meant to provide regular electricity supply for Nigerians; as well as obeying court orders and the rule of law if elected”.
The group also condemned the practice of vote-buying and electoral bribery by politicians before and during elections, saying it prevents political equality and fair electoral competition.
“Vote-buying amounts to undue influence and improper electoral influence. When politicians buy votes, they reinforce social subjugation and do long-term damage to poor voters”, it said.
SERAP noted that public officials rarely publish their asset declarations submitted to the Code of Conduct Bureau, contrary to the principles of transparency and accountability, and other international standards.
“Widely publishing your assets before the elections would also show your principled stand on transparency and accountability in the management of the country’s resources.
“Making asset declarations open would ensure that leaders do not abuse their powers for personal gain and allow civil society to hold leaders to account. If leaders are seen to live beyond their means, an asset declaration can be a starting point for investigations”.
Presidential candidates for Nigeria’s general elections in 2023 include Alhaji Atiku Abubakar of the Peoples Democratic Party; Bola Ahmed Tinubu of the All Progressives Congress; Peter Obi of the Labour Party; Omoyele Sowore of the Africa Action Congress; Mr Rabiu Kwankwaso of New Nigeria Peoples Party; and Prof Peter Umeadi of the All Progressives Grand Alliance.
Others include: Prince Malik Ado-Ibrahim of Young Progressive Party; Prince Adewole Adebayo of Social Democratic Party; Mr Kola Abiola of Peoples Redemption Party; Prof Christopher Imumulen of Accord Party; Dumebi Kachikwu of African Democratic Congress; and Yusuf Talle of Allied Peoples Movement.