Section 85

This provision outlines offences related to finances of a political party. The penalty for political parties holding funds and retaining assets remitted from outside Nigeria contrary to section 225 (3) (a) of the Constitution is increased in the 2022 Act. A party found guilty shall forfeit such funds or assets and may face a fine of at least N5,000,000. (Section 88 of the repealed Act prescribed a fine of at least N500,000)

Before the 1979 Nigerian Constitution, there was no clearly defined regulatory framework on party finances and the funding of political parties was predominantly through private funding as parties and candidates were responsible for election expenses. However, under section 2015 of the 1979 Constitution, a ban was placed on political parties receiving external funds, presumably to check external control of political parties.