Obi demands probe of campaign funds after Oluchi/Abure fracas
By Jeph Ajobaju, Chief Copy Editor
Peter Obi has demanded investigation of the campaign funds of his Labour Party (LP) over allegations of corruption against LP National Chairman Julius Abure by National Treasurer Oluchi Oparah who has been suspended after an internal enquiry.
Oluchi on Tuesday on Arise News accused Abure of mismanaging N3.5 billion raised from the sale of nomination forms and fundraising in the build up to the 2023 general election.
In his right of reply, Abure countered on Arise News on Thursday only N1.3 billion was raised “between 2022 and now.”
He denied misappropriating funds and alleged Oluchi is being used to destabilise the LP in the mode of Lamidi Apapa and his fellow renegades now suspended from the party.
Obi sought investigation on Thursday in Abuja when he rendered an account of funds donated to the 2023 Obi-Datti Presidential Campaign Organisation.
“For the party [LP], I am a member of the party, and they have chosen to say that I am the leader,” he clarified.
“What we need to do in the party, and I have discussed it with the leadership, is that we must now appoint a reputable audit firm to audit and be able to deal with the account of the party.
“When I am involved in [something], anywhere money is it must be transparent. So the allegations and counter allegations now must be thoroughly investigated and verified and we would reconcile it and know what exactly what we do.”
LP National Working Committee (NWC) on Wednesday suspended Oluchi for six months for dragging the party’s name in the mud.
But she has vowed to challenge her suspension in court, insisting her suspension was premeditated because her accusers knew she was not in Abuja when they gave her less than 12 hours to appear before a hurriedly constituted panel.
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Emphasis on accountability and transparency
Aisha Yesufu, Obi-Datti Campaign Organisation Fund Raising Team Chairman, who rendered an account of funds raised and spent during the campaign, explained that a total N595,976,994.00 was received as donations.
Her words: “Accountability and transparency are very critical and important; that is why we asked people to donate so that we could come back to them to explain how their money was judiciously used.
“We thank everyone who donated in cash and kindness. From the donations from citizens, we received N595,976,994.
“This is the money we raised from the four accounts that we have talked about. We also received N800,000,000 from the candidate himself [Obi].
“We designed a strategic blueprint focused on channeling the movement energy and support for Peter Obi and Datti Ahmed with different support groups.
“We provided direct and indirect support to over a hundred support groups across all 36 states in Nigeria. We also deployed media-related campaigns that reached over 11 million people, leveraging over 40 radio stations, community outreach, and social media.
“We would have loved to use television and all of that, but because of our financial constraints, we were mindful of being judicious in our usage of the funds that we received.
“So, out of these things, campaign materials worth N258,374,330.00 were procured and distributed across the 36 states and also in Abuja. Media and radio broadcasting was at the cost of N16,432,867.00.
“For the election promotion expenses, we had N10,808,948.00. For Polling Unit Agents, we spent N324,381,700.00. And then, of course, we had bank charges of N1,750,544.00. We also had administrative charges of N477,000.00.
“We deployed N744,500,000.00 to cover legal expenses. And then, in campaign and election activities, we had over N28,500,000.00. On the issue of legal fees, remember what I said earlier: We had N800,000,000.00 that the candidate himself brought.”