NDC Nets N8.529bn From Sales Of Nomination Forms, Dues, Others, Spends N2.402bn

The Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC) has raised the total sum of N8.529 billion from sales of nomination forms, payment of dues and levies as well as contributions from supporters since its inception about seven months ago.

Out of the amount, the party spent a total of N2.402 billion on organising party events such including primaries, publicity, salaries of staff and other expenses.

This emerged from the release and presentation of the party’s Statement of Account by the National Treasurer, Dr Peter Onigah at the NDC National Executive Committee (NEC) meeting in Abuja on Monday.

The meeting was attended by the NDC presidential candidate, Peter Obi; vice presidential candidate, Senator Rabiu Kwankwaso; National Leader of the party,Senator Henry Seriake Dickson, members of the National Working Committee and other leaders including, former Deputy Senate President Ovie Omo-Agege; Senators Victor Umeh and Tony Nwoye; former Ebonyi state governor, Sam Egwu, former All Progressives Congress(APC),
governorship candidate in Adamawa, Aisha Binani; zonal officials; state chairmen, among others.

According to the party, the disclosure is sequel to its resolve to ensure accountability in the management of resources and challenged other political parties to demonstrate transparency by opening up their financial records to public scrutiny.

Commenting on the report, the NDC National Chairman, Senator Moses Cleopas said the party decided to release its financial report before the party’s
first anniversary to enable members knew how their common resources were being managed.

Cleopas noted that the decision was not due frivolous allegations on social media, saying while political parties were required to submit their financial reports to the relevant government institutions at the end of each year, the NDC considered it necessary to account to its members ahead of the statutory deadline.

“We are not up to one year. That will be after our presidential elections. But just because of what we are coming out from, we, the managers of the party, feel that in a network like this, even as we are not going into details, people must know what we are and how we are functioning and how we are managing.

“It is therefore the right and opportunity of every individual member to hear and to know what we are doing with our common resources,” he said.

Cleopas said the party would present its properly audited accounts to the constitutionally authorised institutions when due, noting that its financial disclosure was part of efforts to establish accountability as a defining principle of its administration.

Reacting to the report, Senator Umeh (Anambra Central) and a member of the party’s NEC, described the move as a show of transparency necessary to earn public trust.

“Because there is no way to be transparent except by demonstrating it,” he said.

The lawmaker further said the presentation had enabled party members to understand NDC’s financial position rather than rely on speculation about its finances.

“From what we have been told here, I am so happy that going home I now know that what people say undercover may not have any basis. Because the party has now told us how much they got as inflow within the period under consideration and how much they have spent in running the affairs of the party within the period, though with details to be given when the proper accounting is done,” he said.

The Anambra Central Senator
appealed to the party leadership to return an appropriate percentage of funds generated from state chapters to the states to enable them to establish offices and effectively run the party to boost its visibility.

In his response, the National Chairman said the allocation of resources to state chapters was already on the agenda of the party’s national leadership and assured that the states would receive their legitimate share in line with the party’s constitution and objectives.

Cleopas explained that the party’s presidential candidate call for accountability was not directed specifically at him or the NDC leadership but it was a broader challenge to those managing Nigeria’s resources.

He said Obi had emphasised that the debate ahead of the 2027 elections should not be about individuals alone but should focus on what those entrusted with resources had done with the money.

“The question is, let them come and tell us what they have used our money, Nigeria’s money, to do, and explain to us how it has been beneficial to the citizens of this country.

“When you have a responsibility to sit over a public fund, to be open to them, they must know what you are doing,” Cleopas said.

Briefing the NEC on implementation of the resolutions at its last meeting, the National Chairman said the reconciliation committee had visited the various geopolitical zones to engage aggrieved aspirants.

He also said regular meetings at the national secretariat were being used to resolve disagreements and strengthen party unity.

Cleopas called on members of party to put their differences aside and work for the victory of all NDC candidates from “top to bottom,” saying the party is on a mission to rescue the country.

“We are on a rescue mission for our nation. It is either now or never. And as I said somewhere else, this is not the time for doubters. This is not the time for people to say, they have already reached a result, for where? This is not the time for people to say, will we succeed?

“No. We are succeeding. We are taking over government. We are forming government. Peter Obi is the next president of this country. Rabiu Kwankwaso is the next vice president of this country. How? By legitimately winning popular votes of this country. And we know we have the votes,”he added.