NDC generates N8.529bn from nomination forms, dues, levies in seven months

The Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC) says it has generated N8.529 billion from the sale of nomination forms, payment of dues and levies, and contributions from supporters within about seven months of its establishment.

The party disclosed that it spent N2.402 billion on party activities, including primaries, publicity, staff salaries and other expenses during the period under review.

The figures were contained in the party’s statement of account presented by its National Treasurer, Dr Peter Onigah, at the National Executive Committee (NEC) meeting held in Abuja on Monday.

The meeting was attended by the party’s presidential candidate, Peter Obi; vice-presidential candidate, Senator Rabiu Kwankwaso; National Leader, Senator Henry Seriake Dickson; and National Chairman, Senator Moses Cleopas.

Other prominent attendees included 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 State, Aisha Binani; as well as zonal officials and state chairmen.

The NDC said the disclosure was part of its commitment to accountability and transparency in managing party resources, challenging other political parties to open their financial records to public scrutiny.

Speaking on the report, Cleopas said the party had decided to make its financial position known before its first anniversary to enable members to understand how their collective resources were being managed.

He said the decision was not prompted by allegations circulating on social media but by the leadership’s commitment to establishing accountability as a fundamental principle of the party.

“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.

The national chairman explained that although political parties were required to submit their financial reports to the appropriate government institutions at the end of each year, the NDC considered it necessary to account to its members ahead of the statutory deadline.

He added that the party would submit its properly audited accounts to the constitutionally authorised institutions when due.

Reacting to the presentation, Senator Umeh, who represents Anambra Central in the Senate and is a member of the party’s NEC, described the disclosure as a demonstration of transparency capable of building public confidence.

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

Umeh said the presentation had enabled party members to understand the NDC’s financial position rather than rely on speculation about its income and expenditure.

“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 lawmaker, however, urged the party’s national leadership to allocate an appropriate percentage of funds generated from state chapters back to the states to enable them to establish offices, strengthen their operations and improve the party’s visibility.

In response, Cleopas said the allocation of resources to state chapters was already under consideration by the national leadership.

He assured members that the states would receive their legitimate share in accordance with the party’s constitution and objectives.

The national chairman also clarified that Obi’s calls for accountability were not directed specifically at him or the NDC leadership but represented a broader challenge to those entrusted with managing Nigeria’s public resources.

According to him, the party’s presidential candidate believes the debate ahead of the 2027 general elections should focus on how public officeholders have utilised the country’s resources and the benefits delivered to citizens.

“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.

On efforts to strengthen internal cohesion, the national chairman told the NEC that the reconciliation committee established by the party had visited the various geopolitical zones to engage aggrieved aspirants.

He added that regular meetings at the national secretariat were also being used to resolve disagreements and promote unity among party members.

Cleopas urged members to set aside their differences and work towards the victory of all NDC candidates in the 2027 elections, from the presidential race to other positions.

He described the party as being on a mission to rescue Nigeria and expressed confidence that the NDC would win the presidential election.

“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.