The Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC) says it plans to finance its 2027 election campaign largely through small contributions from ordinary Nigerians, rather than relying on wealthy individuals and political financiers.
The party said supporters would be able to contribute amounts as low as N1,000 and N2,000, describing the proposed funding model as an effort to broaden public participation in political financing and reduce the influence of wealthy donors.
NDC National Leader and Senator representing Bayelsa West, Seriake Dickson, disclosed this during an appearance on Arise News’ Prime Time.
Dickson said allowing billionaires and individuals with access to public resources to dominate political financing could weaken democratic participation and place 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 establish a system through which Nigerians, regardless of their financial standing, could contribute to the party’s campaign.
He said the approach would give ordinary citizens a greater stake in the political process while reducing the party’s dependence on a small number of 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 further described the NDC as the only political party in Nigeria that was not funded from the government treasury, saying the party was committed to pursuing an alternative model of political financing ahead of the 2027 general elections.
According to him, the proposed fundraising strategy would enable the party to mobilise resources from a broad base of Nigerians rather than depend on a limited number of wealthy donors.
The NDC leader also disclosed that the party was consulting on the composition of its presidential campaign council ahead of the 2027 elections.
He said the council’s membership would be announced after the consultations were concluded.
“We don’t want to do what the other party in government has done, publishing something and withdrawing it,” he said, without naming the party.
Dickson also urged 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 take its campaign directly to Nigerians and would not assume that any vote was guaranteed.
“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 proposed campaign-financing model comes amid heightened political activity 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.
The party’s National Publicity Secretary, Osa Director, described the allegations as part of what he called a “wave of deliberate misinformation and propaganda” by “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 NDC maintained that its candidate-selection and fundraising processes were not based on the alleged financial arrangements being circulated by its critics.
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