How We Made N8.529bn, Spent N2.402bn In 7 Months – NDC

The Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC) has disclosed that it generated a total of N8.529 billion in seven months from the sale of nomination forms, the collection of dues and levies, and contributions from supporters.

The party said it spent N2.402 billion on organising party events, including primaries, publicity, staff salaries and other expenses, leaving a balance of N6.127 billion.

This was disclosed at the NDC National Executive Committee (NEC) meeting in Abuja on Monday, following the release and presentation of the party’s statement of account by the National Treasurer, Dr Peter Onigah.

The meeting was attended by the NDC presidential candidate, Peter Obi; the vice-presidential candidate, Senator Rabiu Kwankwaso; the party’s National Leader, 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 State Aisha Binani, zonal officials and state chairmen, among others.

The party explained that the disclosure followed its resolve to ensure accountability in the management of its resources. It also challenged other political parties to demonstrate transparency by opening their financial records to public scrutiny.

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

Cleopas noted that the decision was not prompted by frivolous allegations on social media. He said that although 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 the financial disclosure was part of efforts to establish accountability as a defining principle of its administration.

Reacting to the report, Senator Umeh, representing Anambra Central and a member of the party’s NEC, described the move as a demonstration of the 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 the 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 under cover may not have any basis. The party has now told us how much it received as inflows within the period under consideration and how much it spent running its affairs during that period, although details will be provided when the proper accounting is completed,” he said.

The Anambra Central senator appealed to the party leadership to return an appropriate percentage of the funds generated by state chapters to the states to enable them to establish offices and run the party effectively, thereby boosting its visibility.

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

Cleopas explained that the party’s presidential candidate’s call for accountability was not directed specifically at him or the NDC leadership but 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 focus on individuals alone but should also examine what those entrusted with public 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 manage public funds, you must be open about them. The people must know what you are doing,” Cleopas said.

Briefing the NEC on the implementation of resolutions reached at its previous 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 party members to put their differences aside and work for the victory of all NDC candidates, from the top to the bottom of the ballot, saying the party was 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 ask whether we will 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 the popular votes of this country. And we know we have the votes,” he added.