Strategies of Political Parties in Financial Resources Mobilization for the 2024 Edo and Ondo States Gubernatorial Elections: A Comparative Analysis

Publication Details

Publication Date

10/09/2026

Volume / Issue

Vol 1, Issue 4 (2026)

Article No.

052

Journal

British Journal of Contemporary Research

DOI

https://doi.org/10.67693/BJCR-YLAHVAK3

Received

30 Aug 2026

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3

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0

Abstract

This study examines the strategies employed by political parties in mobilizing financial resources for the 2024 gubernatorial elections in Edo and Ondo states, Nigeria, using a qualitative comparative approach. Financial mobilization remains critical in determining electoral success, influencing campaign reach, candidate visibility, and voter engagement. Against the backdrop of Nigeria’s competitive multi-party system and the increasing cost of electoral campaigns, understanding these strategies offers insights into the dynamics of political financing at sub national levels. The research adopts a qualitative methodology, collecting data through books, academic journals, newspapers, election reports and internet materials which are carefully sourced and analyzed. The study is anchored in the Resource Mobilization Theory, which emphasizes the strategic acquisition and deployment of resources as central to political action and organizational success. This framework elucidates how political parties navigate financial constraints and leverage networks to support electoral ambitions. The findings revealed that, Political parties in Edo and Ondo states utilized diverse funding strategies combining formal contributions from party elites and informal grassroots fundraising, including community donations and social events. Some wealthy individuals and corporate actors played significant roles as patrons, reflecting the persistence of patron-client relations in Nigerian politics, also, differences emerged in transparency and accountability mechanisms, with Ondo parties showing relatively better organizational structures for financial oversight compared to Edo parties. However, the same strategies were adopted. This paper provides some salient recommendations, such as. Political parties should institutionalize transparent financial management practices, to enhance accountability and public trust. Regulatory bodies like the independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) need to strengthen monitoring of party funding to curb illicit contributions and promote equity. Capacity-building for party officials in financial planning and ethics is essential to professionalize campaign financing and reduce dependence on personal wealth which may constitute dark money among others.

License

This article is published under the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License . Free to read, share, and adapt with attribution.