Former National Chairman of the Labour Party, Julius Abure, has warned the Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC) against allowing individuals and support groups to raise campaign funds for its 2027 presidential candidate, Peter Obi, without the party’s knowledge and approval.
Abure said such arrangements could undermine the party’s authority and expose it to a crisis similar to the one that rocked the Labour Party ahead of and after the 2023 general elections.
He spoke following a fundraising initiative launched by activist and Obi supporter, Aisha Yesufu, on Wednesday, urging Nigerians to contribute towards Obi’s 2027 presidential campaign.
Yesufu announced the initiative in a video shared on X, saying Obi should not be left to bear the financial burden of the campaign alone.
She urged Nigerians to take ownership of the political project by making financial contributions, regardless of the amount.
However, Abure, in an interview with Sunday PUNCH, warned that individuals must not be allowed to control campaign donations without the supervision and approval of the political party.
He argued that if the NDC Campaign Council did not authorise Yesufu to collect donations, she would have no legal basis to do so.
“So, if the NDC Campaign Council does not want Aisha to collect those funds, then she has no authority to do that. And if she does, it amounts to a criminal matter that can be prosecuted,” he said.
The former Labour Party chairman said he was not surprised by the development, alleging that a similar arrangement involving Obi’s loyalists contributed to the crisis that engulfed the party after the 2023 elections.
He explained that although Obi had informed him that certain individuals would handle campaign donations, he allowed the arrangement because his priority was to ensure the success of the presidential campaign.
“I am not surprised. That was the exact thing they did in the Labour Party. However, I was informed. It wasn’t as if I was not aware. In fairness, Obi mentioned it to me that he wanted the campaign funds, donations and everything to be handled by some persons.
“So, I allowed them to do it, since our aim was not to make money. My objective was the success of the campaign. It was not about making money from the process or what I could gain,” he said.
Abure, however, maintained that individuals and support groups must obtain the party’s approval before organising fundraising activities for its candidates.
He argued that political parties own the platforms on which candidates contest elections and should therefore retain oversight of campaign financing.
Meanwhile, the NDC National Publicity Secretary, Osa Director, expressed confidence that Yesufu had the approval of the party leadership to organise the fundraising initiative.
Director said he was not aware of the initiative but believed Yesufu would have obtained the necessary approval from the party hierarchy and its candidates.
He added that various support groups, including the Obidients and Kwankwasiyya movements, were working towards securing victory for Obi and his running mate, Rabiu Kwankwaso, in the January 16, 2027 presidential election.
“Aisha is a member of the party and I believe that whatever she’s doing would have the blessing of the party hierarchy to do that. If it doesn’t, I’m sure the party will also make its feelings known through the appropriate quota.
“But I want to believe that she has the blessing of the party because we are all on the same page. We are pursuing the same goal and the same objective,” Director said.
