The Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC) says it realised N8.529 billion from the sale of nomination forms, payment of dues and levies, as well as contributions from supporters, since its inception about seven months ago.
The party’s national treasurer, Peter Onigah announced the figures in Abuja on Monday while presenting its financial statement at the NDC’s third national executive committee (NEC) meeting.
Onigah said the party spent N2.402 billion on political events, including primaries, publicity, staff salaries and other expenses.
He said the disclosure was in line with the party’s commitment to opening its financial records to public scrutiny in the interest of transparency and accountability.
Onigah added that the party would provide a detailed breakdown of its financial transactions before the end of its first accounting year, urging Nigerians to sustain their support.
‘We have been very prudent. Our shelf is made up of technocrats, people who are experienced and people who have different capacities’, Onigah said.
‘As a new party, we don’t have people in government yet. All of us are outside the government. So, we need to contribute together and ensure that our party will prevail and achieve the desired objectives’.
Moses Cleopas, NDC national chairman, said the decision to publicise the party’s financial records was a standard practice and not a response to what he described as frivolous allegations on social media.
Cleopas said political parties are required to submit their financial reports to the relevant government institutions at the end of each year.
‘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’, he said.
‘It is therefore the right and opportunity of every individual member to hear and to know what we are doing with our common resources’.
Cleopas said the NDC’s national leadership had prioritised allocation of funds to state chapters, assuring them that they would receive their due share in line with the party’s constitution and objectives.
He added that the party’s reconciliation committee had visited the various geopolitical zones to engage aggrieved aspirants ahead of the next election.
Cleopas urged party members to aside their differences and work towards the victory of all NDC candidates across the country.
‘We are on a rescue mission for our nation. It is either now or never’, he said.
‘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 the government. We are forming a government. Peter Obi is the next president of this country.
‘Rabiu Kwankwaso is the next vice president of this country. How? By legitimately winning the popular votes of this country. And we know we have the votes’.
The meeting was attended by Peter Obi, the NDC presidential candidate; Rabiu Musa Kwankwaso, the vice-presidential candidate; Seriake Dickson, the party’s national leader; members of the national working committee; and other party leaders.
