THE CHALLENGES OF THE PDP CAMPAIGN FINANCING IN 2015 PRESIDENTIAL ELECTION OF BAUCHI STATE

Campaign entails the roar of the crowd at a political rally, comprising of posters lining the streets, the constant stream of social media advertisement, all these elements paint a vibrant picture of an election campaign. But behind the scenes lies a vital, yet often unseen, force: party campaign financing. This invisible engine fuels the entire political machinery, allowing parties to project their message and vie for voter support. Campaign funds are used for a multitude of purposes. The clamour by political parties for the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to take over the funding of their activities may have to wait until the 1999 Constitution is amended. INEC Chairman Professor Attahiru Jega said this much in a recent interaction with the media. He made it clear that the issue of funding political parties is a constitutional matter. Sections 225, 226 and 227 of the 1999 Constitution are clearly silent on that. He insisted that until the National Assembly amends the Nigerian Constitution to allow for funding of political parties. INE would not be able to do anything about it. The case of the PDP campaign financing cannot be overemphasized. From inception, the known culture in the PDP campaign is via fund raising and individual donations. This culture has been in practice for decades. The 2015 presidential election campaign financing of the PDP is marred by corruption of the highest order. Evidence has shown that there is trace of corruption in the process of its campaign financing by the then Minister of Defence, Sambo Dasuki Reliable source confirmed that the former Minister of Defence diverted the sum of $2.Ibillion (NGN777.133,624,337,580.00) provided for purchase of arms to fight Boko Haram through his office to Campaign financing of the PDP in 2015 Presidential Elections. This research explores the challenges faced by the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in financing its 2015 presidential campaign in Bauchi State. Nigeria. It examines the role of campaign finance in Nigerian elections, the sources of funding for political parties, and the challenges associated with raising and managing campaign funds. The study also analyzes the impact of campaign finance on electoral outcomes and the potential for corruption. The study employed a mixed research design to seek for the relevant information needed from the study population who form the scope of this study. The sample size comprised of 50 respondents who are PDP party members for at least to decades in the state. This study basks in the inductive research approach which allows the research to begin with particular observation which is oftentimes employed to infer conclusions and equally produce a sort of generalised theory An indebt interview was used to gather information from the sampled population and the data collected were analyzed using content-analysis. The research findings reveal that the PDP. like many other political parties in Nigeria, relies heavily on external sources of funding, including donations from individuals and corporations. These sources can be unreliable and subject to manipulation, making it difficult for parties to plan and execute their campaigns effectively. The study also highlights the challenges of transparency and accountability in campaign finance, as well as the potential for corruption in the fundraising process. The research concludes by offering recommendations for improving the campaign finance system in Nigeria. These recommendations include increasing transparency and accountability in fundraising, strengthening enforcement mechanisms, and exploring alternative sources of funding for political parties. By addressing these challenges, Nigeria can create a more level playing field for all political parties and ensure that elections are fair and representative of the people's will.