Activist Aisha Yesufu has urged Nigerians to contribute small amounts towards Peter Obi’s 2027 presidential campaign under the Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC), describing the donations as a “widow’s mite”. The appeal has reopened debate over how donations for Obi’s 2023 Labour Party campaign were handled and reported.
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By Obah Sylva
Key Highlights
- Aisha Yesufu appealed for public contributions to Peter Obi’s 2027 campaign.
- She said the proposed fundraising is separate from the NDC’s party accounts.
- Yesufu pledged to account for donations, citing her role in the 2023 campaign.
- She previously reported that the 2023 campaign received about ₦595.98 million from the public and ₦800 million from Obi.
- The new appeal has brought renewed criticism and questions about campaign fundraising into public discussion.
Yesufu Appeals for Donations to Obi’s 2027 Campaign
In a video shared on X, Yesufu urged Nigerians who want to take part in shaping the country’s future to support the campaign financially, saying Obi could not shoulder the cost alone. She recalled encouraging him to accept donations from supporters during the 2023 presidential election.
Yesufu said the proposed fundraising would be separate from the NDC’s official accounts and pledged to remain accountable for the money received. The appeal and her comments can be followed through Yesufu’s X account.
Appeal Prompts Questions About 2023 Campaign Funds
The appeal has drawn mixed responses on social media. Some critics questioned whether supporters should contribute amid economic hardship and revived questions about the previous campaign’s funding, while others defended citizens’ right to support a candidate they believe in.
Yesufu previously said the 2023 fundraising team received ₦595,976,994 in public donations through four accounts and that Obi personally contributed ₦800 million. She also reported spending that included about ₦324 million for polling unit agents, ₦258 million for campaign materials and ₦744.5 million on post-election litigation.
Yesufu said the figures represented the campaign team’s account of the funds. Online criticism and allegations do not, by themselves, establish financial misconduct.
Labour Party Figures Disputed How Donations Were Managed
The 2023 fundraising arrangements also became a point of disagreement between Yesufu and Labour Party figures associated with Julius Abure. Abure reportedly said campaign donations did not pass through the party’s official accounts and identified Yesufu and Pastor Itua Ighodalo as signatories to accounts used for fundraising.
Some party figures called for an EFCC investigation into allegations concerning the funds. Yesufu rejected Abure’s claims and challenged him to account for separate donations raised through the Labour Party’s ₦1,000 Challenge, saying her team did not control those contributions.
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Fundraising and Public Confidence Ahead of 2027
For supporters, small contributions offer a way for citizens to help finance a campaign they believe in. Critics say questions about the previous fundraising exercise should be addressed as the new appeal proceeds.
How widely Nigerians respond may depend in part on confidence in the fundraising arrangements and the transparency of future financial reporting.
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