Abure warns against unauthorised Obi campaign funds

Former National Chairman of the Labour Party, Julius Abure, has warned the Nigeria Democratic Congress against allowing individuals and support groups to raise funds for its 2027 presidential candidate, Peter Obi, without the party’s knowledge and approval.

Abure said allowing such arrangements could undermine the party’s authority and expose it to the kind of crisis that rocked the LP during the 2023 general elections.

He spoke against the backdrop of a fresh fundraising initiative launched by activist and Obi supporter, Aisha Yesufu, on Wednesday, urging Nigerians to contribute toward Obi’s presidential campaign.

Yesufu announced the initiative in a video shared on X, saying Obi should not be left to shoulder the financial burden of the campaign alone.

She urged Nigerians to take ownership of the political project by making contributions, irrespective of the amounts involved.

However, Abure, in an interview with Sunday PUNCH, warned that the party must not allow individuals to control campaign donations without its supervision.

He warned that allowing Yesufu to raise funds without the NDC’s approval could have legal implications.

“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 LP 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 said although Obi had informed him that campaign donations would be handled by certain individuals, he allowed the arrangement because his priority was 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.

He, however, insisted that fundraising by individuals and support groups must be conducted with the knowledge and approval of the political party.

According to him, the party owns the political platform on which candidates contest elections and must therefore retain oversight of campaign financing.

Meanwhile, the National Publicity Secretary of the NDC, Osa Director, expressed confidence that Yesufu had the blessing of the party leadership.

Director said he was unaware of the fundraising initiative but believed Yesufu would have obtained the approval of the party hierarchy and its candidates.

He said various support groups, including the Obidients and Kwankwasiyya movements, were working toward the common objective of 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.