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From Adesuwa Tsan, Abuja
The Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC) has disclosed that it generated N8.53 billion in seven months from nomination forms, membership contributions, dues and levies, out of which it spent N2.4 billion, leaving a balance of over N6.12 billion.
The opposition party, which made the disclosure at its third National Executive Council (NEC) meeting in Abuja on Monday, challenged other political parties to open their financial records to public scrutiny, insisting that transparency in the management of political funds was essential to restoring public confidence in the democratic process.
The party also disclosed that it was engaging the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) over the omission of some of its candidates from the commission’s published lists ahead of the elections, expressing confidence that the discrepancies would be resolved.
Presenting the financial report, the National Treasurer, John Onigah, said the party recorded total inflows of N8,529,632,438.77 within the period under review, while expenditure on party primaries, political activities, publicity, salaries and other operational commitments amounted to N2,402,461,479.77.
The figures leave a balance of M6,127,170,959, subject to further reconciliation and audit.
National Chairman of the party, Moses Cleopas, said the decision to disclose the figures before the party’s first anniversary was deliberate and not a reaction to allegations circulating on social media.
He explained that although political parties were required to submit their financial reports to the appropriate regulatory authorities, the NDC leadership considered it necessary to give members an account of how their contributions were being managed before the statutory deadline.
“We are not up to one year. That will be after our presidential elections. But just because of what we are coming out from, we, the managers of the party, feel that in a network like this, even as we are not going into details, people must know what we are and how we are functioning and how we are managing.
“It is therefore the right and opportunity of every individual member to hear and to know what we are doing with our common resources.”
He assured members that properly audited financial statements would be submitted to the constitutionally authorised institutions when due, stressing that accountability would remain a guiding principle of the party’s administration.
Cleopas said the party operated a financial management committee comprising the national chairman, national secretary, financial secretary, treasurer and auditor, with the legal adviser participating when necessary.
He clarified that the account covered by the disclosure was dedicated to election-related activities and should not be confused with the party’s general administrative accounts.
The chairman maintained that political parties demanding accountability from government must demonstrate the same standard in managing resources entrusted to them by members and supporters.
He also clarified that the call by the party’s presidential candidate, Peter Obi, for accountability in public finance was not directed at him or the NDC leadership but formed part of a broader demand for those managing national resources to explain how public funds had been utilised.
“The question is, let them come and tell us what they have used our money, Nigeria’s money, to do, and explain to us how it has been beneficial to the citizens of this country,” Cleopas said, recounting Obi’s position.
According to him, Nigerians deserve to know not only how much revenue government receives but also what public expenditure has achieved in improving their living conditions.
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“When you have a responsibility to sit over a public fund, to be open to them, they must know what you are doing,” he said.
Reacting to the presentation, Senator Victor Umeh, who represents Anambra Central and is a member of the party’s NEC, commended the leadership for disclosing its financial position, describing transparency as a practical obligation rather than a mere political slogan.
“Because there is no way to be transparent except by demonstrating it,” Umeh said.
He maintained that the disclosure would help dispel speculation about the party’s finances and enable members to understand how resources raised from their contributions were being managed.
“From what we have been told here, I am so happy that going home I now know that what people say undercover may not have any basis. Because the party has now told us how much they got as inflow within the period under consideration and how much they have spent in running the affairs of the party within the period, though with details to be given when the proper accounting is done,” he said.
Umeh, a former national chairman of the All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA), described the balance of more than ₦6 billion as seed money for the party’s operations and preparations for the general election.
“The six billion that we have is a seed money for the operations of this party. We know that we have a lot to do,” he said.
He noted that the party would require additional resources to prosecute its campaigns and meet organisational commitments across the federation.
Umeh also urged the national leadership to return an appropriate percentage of funds generated from state chapters to those chapters to enable them to establish offices, undertake political activities and strengthen the party’s presence at the grassroots.
Responding, Cleopas assured members that resource allocation to state chapters was already receiving attention, adding that the states would receive their legitimate share in accordance with the party’s constitution and objectives.
On preparations for the 2027 elections, the national chairman said the party was taking steps to address the omission of some of its candidates from INEC’s published lists.
He expressed confidence that the outstanding issues would be resolved through engagement with the electoral commission, although he did not provide details of the affected candidates or a specific timetable for their inclusion.
The NEC also reviewed the report of its second meeting held on June 3, 2026, and received updates on reconciliation efforts following disagreements arising from the party’s primaries.
Cleopas said the reconciliation committee had visited various geopolitical zones to engage aggrieved aspirants, while meetings at the national secretariat were helping to resolve outstanding disputes and strengthen internal cohesion.
He urged party members to subordinate personal ambitions to the collective interest of the organisation, warning that unresolved disagreements could undermine its preparations for the elections.
The meeting was attended by the party’s presidential candidate, Peter Obi; vice-presidential candidate, Rabiu Kwankwaso; National Leader Henry Seriake Dickson; Cleopas; Umeh; Tony Nwoye; former Ebonyi State governor Sam Egwu; former Adamawa governorship candidate Aisha Binani; and former lawmakers Ovie Omo-Agege, Nkechi Nwogu and Clever Ikisikpo, alongside other national officers and state chairmen.
