2027: Nigerians can donate to fund our campaign — NDC

The Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC) says it plans to raise funds for its 2027 election campaign through contributions from ordinary Nigerians, rather than relying on wealthy individuals and political financiers.

The party said Nigerians would be allowed to contribute amounts as low as N1,000 and N2,000 towards its campaign, describing the proposed model as an attempt to reduce the influence of wealthy individuals over the country’s democratic process.

Seriake Dickson, NDC national leader and senator representing Bayelsa West, disclosed this during an appearance on Arise News’ Prime Time.

Dickson said the party believed allowing billionaires and individuals with access to public resources to dominate political financing could undermine democracy and leave ordinary Nigerians at a disadvantage.

“You cannot allow your democracy to be funded by moneybags and billionaires who are now trillionaires using government resources. You will continue to be oppressed,” he said.

The former Bayelsa governor said the NDC wanted to create a system in which Nigerians, irrespective of their financial status, could contribute to the political process.

He said such contributions would enable ordinary citizens to have a stake in the party’s campaign and reduce its dependence on wealthy political financiers.

“So, we have got to help Nigerian poor people, oppressed people, break loose from the oppressors,” Dickson said.

“We want a process by which Nigerians, ordinary Nigerians, can contribute N1,000, N2,000, as it happens all over the world.”

Dickson described the NDC as the only political party in the country that was not funded from the government treasury.

He said the party was determined to pursue an alternative approach to political financing ahead of the 2027 general elections.

According to him, the proposed fundraising model would allow the party to mobilise support from a broad base of Nigerians instead of depending on a small number of wealthy donors.

Dickson also disclosed that the party was consulting on the composition of its presidential campaign council ahead of the 2027 elections.

He said the composition of the council would be made public after consultations had been concluded.

“We don’t want to do what the other party in government has done, publishing something and withdrawing it,” he said.

The NDC leader did not name the party he was referring to.

Dickson also called on the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), security agencies and other institutions involved in the electoral process to ensure that the 2027 elections were conducted freely and fairly.

He said the NDC would campaign directly to Nigerians and would not take any vote for granted.

“We will take our case to the Nigerian people, and every vote will be fought for. Every vote will be contested,” he said.

The party’s position on campaign financing comes amid renewed political activities and preparations by political parties and aspirants ahead of the 2027 general elections.

The NDC had, on Tuesday, also rejected allegations of illegal payments allegedly linked to its candidate-selection process.

Osa Director, the party’s national publicity secretary, said the NDC had been subjected to what he described as a “wave of deliberate misinformation and propaganda” by what he called “disgruntled elements” over the party’s candidate-selection and funding processes.

Director also denied allegations that Dickson demanded or received money from aspirants seeking the party’s tickets.

The party maintained that its candidate-selection and fundraising activities were not based on the alleged financial arrangements being circulated by its critics.