The Labour Party flagbearer for the 2023 general elections, Peter Obi has declared that a proper auditing and transparent account of funds realised during the campaign process will be executed by an external auditor.
He stated this at a press briefing in Abuja on Thursday, just as a fresh crisis hit the party over fundraising efforts, and sales of forms for the 2023 general elections.
Yesterday, the party suspended its National Treasurer, Oluchi Opara after she asked the party’s National Chairman, Julius Abure on Monday, to account for N3.5billion raised from the sale of nomination forms and fundraising activities ahead of the 2023 general elections.
Obi said as the leader of the party, he will certify that the LP a reputable audit firm will be hired to audit the accounts of the party.
He added that the air must be cleared around all the accusations and counter-accusations within the party, following a thorough investigation.
“I have told everybody that whatever we receive directly or indirectly will be accounted for transparently. For the party, I am a member of the party and they have chosen to say I am the leader,” he said.
“What we need to do in the party as I have discussed with the leadership is that we must now appoint a reputable audit firm to audit and be able to deal with the accounting of the party.
“When I am involved in anywhere money is, it must be transparently utilised. So there is the allegation and counter-allegation now that must be thoroughly investigated and verified. We will reconcile it and know exactly what we are doing.
“What we are doing here is accounting for the campaign. I am using the opportunity also to appeal to various support groups or individuals and parties that received some form of funding to support what we are doing which we are very grateful,” he stated.
According to the Obi/Baba-Ahmed Presidential Campaign Organisation, it expended N744,500,000 in court litigations over the 2023 presidential election.
The Chairman of the Fundraising Team of the Campaign Organisation, Aisha Yesufu, who disclosed this, also stated that Labour Party received donations totalling N595,976,994.00 from Nigerians.
“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 N8,000,00.00 from the candidate himself (Peter Obi),” she said.