Peter Obi denies that he has so far raised $150m from meeting Nigerians in the diaspora

FORMER Anambra State governor Peter Obi has denied reports that he has raised $150m from donations from the Nigerian diaspora over the last week when he has been on a speaking tour of North America and Europe.

Next February, Nigerians go to the polls to elect a new president and Peter Obi, the Labour Party's presidential candidate is one of the frontrunners in the contest. Other major contenders in the election are former vice president Alhaji Atiku Abubakar of the Peoples Democratic Party, former Lagos State governor Asiwaju Bola Tinubu of the All Progressives Congress (APC) and former Kano State governor Rabiu Kwankwaso of the New Nigeria Peoples Party.

Currently on a tour of North America and Europe, Governor Obi has been meeting with the Nigerian diaspora communities in the US, Canada, UK, Germany and France. While on the road, his party has inaugurated a diaspora committee to raise funds from Nigerians living abroad to prosecute its presidential campaign.

Although precise figures on how much has been raised remains unclear and Governor Obi himself has dismissed the $150m sum, Nigeria's electoral laws do not allow political parties to accept overseas donations. Already, Okoi Ofem Obono-Obla, the former chairman of the Special Presidential Investigation Panel for Recovery of Public Property, has warned that the Labour Party runs the risk of a money laundering or terrorism financing investigation as a result of these donations.

Section 225 (3) of Nigeria's constitution states: “No political party shall hold or possess any funds or other assets outside Nigeria or be entitled to retain any funds or assets remitted or sent to it from outside Nigeria. Any funds or other assets remitted or sent to a political party from outside Nigeria shall be paid over or transferred to the commission within 21 days of its receipt with such information as the omission may require.”

Section 85 of the Electoral Act 2022, adds: “Any political party that – (a) holds or possesses any fund outside Nigeria in contravention of section 225 (3) (a) of the constitution, commits an offence and shall on conviction forfeit the funds or assets purchased with such funds to the commission and in addition may be liable to a fine of at least 5,000,000; or (b) retains any fund or other asset remitted to it from outside Nigeria in contravention of section 225 (3) (a) of the constitution commits an offence and shall on conviction forfeit the funds or assets to the commission and in addition may be liable to a fine of at least N5,000,000.”

Governor Obi had reportedly planned to raise N100bn to execute the presidential elections but his political opponents have asked the authorities to look into the matter.  One of the political groups that resisted the moves was one called Tinubu-Shettima Connect, which asked the Independent National Electoral Commission to disqualify Governor Obi over the alleged donation.

However, Governor Obi put the matter to rest by debunking the report and describing the controversial diaspora donation as a mere speculation. He also denied receiving $150m from Nigerians in the diaspora, adding that the aim of his consultations abroad was not for funds but to ensure that Nigerians in the countries he visited were taking part in the election process.