7
Key Takeaways: Cost of Politics
1
Candidates believe that the more they are financially active in solving people’s economic needs, the more likely their chances of winning popular support.
2
In the 2017 elections, candidates were often responsible for funding most of their own campaigns, with little or no oversight, or control exercised by the party on whose ticket they stood.
3
A candidates’ total campaign outlay which ranged from between D200,000 and D750,000 for those interviewed for this study.
US$
4,500-15,000
4
the costs can be equally as high in rural constituencies as they are in urban areas. In fact, anecdotal evidence suggests that costs of politics for candidates in rural communities is higher than those in the urban areas.
5
Candidates said that occupying the parliamentary seat was more of a burden rather than a reward, as the social responsibilities sometimes overwhelm them.
6
A candidate’s social capital in a community can reduce the monetary costs of seeking political office.
7
Just two of the 53 elected members of the National Assembly are women. High costs have the potential to undermine broader public participation in the democratic process.
