The Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC) has rejected allegations of financial extortion, ticket racketeering and improper fundraising ahead of the 2027 general elections, describing the claims as a coordinated campaign of misinformation allegedly sponsored by political opponents.
The opposition party said its decision to solicit financial support from members, aspirants, stakeholders and members of the public was lawful and expressly permitted under its constitution, insisting that the funds were raised to sustain its operations and prepare for the 2027 elections.
The clarification was contained in a statement signed by the party’s National Publicity Secretary, Osa Director, in which the NDC sought to explain its funding structure and candidate-selection process amid allegations surrounding its activities ahead of the elections.
According to the party, the NDC is a relatively new political platform without a serving president, governor, minister or other public office holder whose administration could provide financial resources for party activities.
It said the absence of such sources of funding created a major challenge for the party, forcing it to adopt what it described as a proactive and constitutionally recognised system of soliciting donations, levies and voluntary contributions from its members and supporters.
The party stated that the contributions were not paid to individual leaders but directly into designated NDC accounts, where they were received, receipted and managed by authorised organs of the party.
“All such contributions, levies, and donations were paid directly into the designated party account and received and managed by the appropriate organs of the party,” the statement said.
The NDC maintained that receiving financial contributions from members, supporters and political stakeholders was a normal feature of democratic party organisation across the world.
It argued that its funding model was fundamentally different from the alleged diversion of public resources, stressing that the party relied on donations, levies and contributions rather than funds allegedly taken from government treasuries.
“Our party is funded not by stolen funds from government treasuries at any level, but by donations, levies, and contributions from members, stakeholders, and well-wishers,” the party said.
The opposition party also denied allegations that its national leadership, particularly its National Leader, demanded money from aspirants in exchange for political tickets.
The NDC said its National Leader had neither demanded nor personally received money from any aspirant, adding that there was no record of him asking for or collecting money from individuals who had interacted with him since the formation of the party.
It further disclosed that some of the party’s most prominent positions were offered without financial demands being imposed on the candidates.
According to the party, the presidential and vice-presidential tickets were offered free of charge because of its confidence in the quality and suitability of the candidates, while several other candidates were similarly allowed to obtain tickets without payment.
“The presidential and vice-presidential tickets were offered free of charge because of our belief in the quality of the candidates. The same applied to several other candidates,” the statement said.
The party, however, acknowledged the importance of adequate funding in its preparations for the 2027 elections, particularly because it would be challenging to compete against an incumbent government with access to significant political and institutional resources.
It said the ability to finance election campaigns remained a critical component of political planning but insisted that the existence of fundraising activities should not be interpreted as evidence that its tickets were being sold.
“The capacity to fund elections in opposition to an incumbent government at all levels is a critical factor in election planning. That does not mean that party tickets were sold in the NDC,” it stated.
The NDC also challenged individuals making allegations of financial misconduct to produce evidence to support their claims.
It specifically asked anyone who claimed to have paid money to an individual rather than into an officially designated party account to come forward publicly with evidence, promising that the party would not protect anyone found to have engaged in wrongdoing.
“Anyone who claims to have paid money to any individual other than the designated party account should come forward with proof. The NDC will not shield anyone,” the party declared.
The opposition party further reaffirmed its intention to comply with the financial disclosure requirements applicable to political parties, saying it would submit a comprehensive account of its finances to the appropriate regulatory authorities in accordance with the Electoral Act and guidelines issued by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC).
“The party will render a full account of all its finances as required by the Electoral Act and INEC guidelines, as and when due,” it said.
The NDC accused unnamed political opponents and disgruntled elements of deliberately circulating false information because of what it described as the growing popularity and nationwide acceptance of the party.
It urged members of the public to disregard the allegations, describing them as an attempt to damage the reputation of the party and its leadership ahead of the 2027 elections.
The party also warned that it was considering legal action against individuals responsible for spreading what it described as defamatory and false claims.
“The party and its national leadership are considering appropriate legal action against the purveyors of such falsehoods,” Director said.
The development comes as political parties and opposition blocs intensify preparations for the 2027 general elections, with questions surrounding party financing, nomination fees, candidate selection and internal democratic processes expected to remain major issues in the run-up to the polls.