The Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC) has said it will turn to ordinary Nigerians for campaign funding ahead of the 2027 general elections, in a move aimed at reducing the influence of wealthy political financiers.
The party’s National Leader, Seriake Dickson, said supporters would be able to contribute as little as N1,000 or N2,000 to fund the party’s activities.
Dickson, who is also the senator representing Bayelsa West, disclosed this on Wednesday while speaking on Arise News’ Prime Time.
He argued that allowing political parties to depend heavily on wealthy individuals would undermine democracy and strengthen the grip of powerful interests over governance.
“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,” Dickson said.
According to him, the NDC wants to establish a funding model that gives ordinary Nigerians a stake in the political process rather than leaving parties dependent on wealthy individuals.
“So, we have got to help Nigerian poor people, oppressed people, break loose from the oppressors. We want a process by which Nigerians, ordinary Nigerians, can contribute N1,000, N2,000, as it happens all over the world,” he said.
Dickson described the NDC as the only political party in the country that was not funded from the government treasury.
He also disclosed that consultations were ongoing over the composition of the party’s presidential campaign council, saying its members would be announced after the process was concluded.
“We don’t want to do what the other party in government has done, publishing something and withdrawing it,” he said.
The NDC leader further called on the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), security agencies and other relevant institutions to ensure that Nigerians were allowed to freely exercise their franchise in 2027.
He said the party would take its campaign directly to the electorate and vigorously defend every vote cast for its candidates.
“We will take our case to the Nigerian people, and every vote will be fought for. Every vote will be contested,” Dickson said.
The funding issue comes amid allegations surrounding the NDC’s candidate selection process.
The party had on Tuesday rejected claims of illegal payments linked to the process, accusing unnamed “disgruntled elements” of spreading what its National Publicity Secretary, Osa Director, described as deliberate misinformation and propaganda.
Director also dismissed allegations that Dickson demanded or received money from aspirants, insisting that the claims were false.
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