The fundraising team for the Obi-Datti Presidential Campaign Organisation has disclosed that they received donations totalling N596m from party supporters, Obidient movements and well-meaning Nigerians across the globe.
This was disclosed by the Chairman of the fundraising team, Aisha Yesufu, at a press conference held in Abuja on Thursday.
While officially presenting a breakdown of how the campaign funds were expended, the social critic and activist further announced that the Labour Party presidential campaign, Peter Obi, spent N744,500,000 on litigations following his loss at the 2023 presidential election.
The development comes in the wake of the internal crisis and corruption allegation rocking the leadership of the opposition party.
Yesufu said, “Accountability and transparency are very critical and important. We raised N595,976,994 donations through four financial institutions including Zenith and Heritage Banks. We also received N800m from the candidate (Obi).
“Although some money came in one week to the election, so many people and vendors put so much into the campaign without demanding payment.
“We designed a strategic blueprint focused on channelling the movement energy and support for Peter Obi and Datti Ahmed by providing direct and indirect support to over 100 groups across all 36 states in Nigeria.
“We also deployed media-related campaigns that reached over 11 million people, leveraging over 40 radio stations, community outreach, and social media.”
Contrary to the report that Obi did not pay his polling unit agents, Yesufu said they were mobilised with N324m.
She also expressed regret that they could not properly utilise television adverts for their campaign because of financial constraints.
”So, out of these things, campaign materials worth N258,374,330 were procured and distributed across the 36 states and also in Abuja. Media and radio broadcasting was at the cost of N16,432,867.
”For the election promotion expenses, we had N10,808,948 and deployed N744,500,000 to cover legal expenses. We thank everyone who donated in cash and kindness.”
Meanwhile, the presidential candidate of Labour Party, Peter Obi, while speaking at the press conference disclosed that he has appealed to the National Working Committee to investigate the allegation of corruption and work towards resolving the internal crisis threatening to tear the party apart.
The former Anambra governor also noted that one of the suggestions he raised was for the party to engage a reputable firm to audit the Labour Party’s accounts.
His appeal comes in the wake of an allegation by the National Treasurer of the party, Oluchi Opara that LP National Chairman, Julius Abure, misappropriated an alleged N3.5bn raised from the sale of nomination forms and fundraising activities for the 2023 general election.
The crisis took another dimension on Wednesday when the party slammed a six-month ban on the treasurer for failing to appear before an investigative panel set up by the NWC.
Obi said, “I was at the meeting where she (Opara) mentioned it and I have directed them and appealed to them to go and resolve it. But today, it is in the public domain and we owe the public a duty to be transparent. I don’t stay around issues of funds mismanagement or embezzlement being discussed. I was governor for eight years and didn’t condone things like this till I left office.
“I am a member of the party. What we need to do for the party, and I have discussed it with them, is that we must appoint a reputable audit firm to deal with the accounting of the party. When I am involved anywhere money is, it must be transparent. All these allegations and counter-allegations must be thoroughly investigated.”(Punch)
