Jonathan Campaign Team Deny Raising Over N21Bn Campaign Fund Says Amount Is Against INEC Laws

The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has denied claims that the over N21 billion raised last year was to fund the President Goodluck Jonathan campaigns for the forthcoming general elections.

There has been uproar that the generation of the over N21 billion was an abuse of the electoral laws as it was in excess of stipulated funds for the presidential election and that has led to the subsequent denial.

Refuting the claims, the Chairman fund Raising and Contact committee, Gana on Monday said it would tantamount to breaking the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) law that stipulates a specific amount for the fund of the presidential campaign.

NewsWireNGR recalls that over N21.27bn was donated to President Goodluck Jonathan by businessmen, multinationals and the Peoples Democratic Party governors to finance his 2015 presidential election campaign at the Presidential Villa Abuja.

At the event televised live which is being denied, Chief Tunde Ayeni opened the donations with N1 billion on behalf of himself and his group of friends. He also announced the donation of another N2 billion on behalf of a different group of friends he said came from across the country.

The PDP Governors’ Forum, represented by the Bauchi State Governor, Isa Yuguda, announced a donation of N50 million by each of the 21 PDP state governors, making a total N1.05 billion. Yuguda was supported by the governors of Cross River, Bayelsa, and Gombe states while announcing the donation.

Bola Shagaya from Kwara state representing oil and gas industry donated N5 billion while the construction sector donated N310 million.

The chairman of Deep Offshore, Didi Ndimou, representing the Transport and Aviation sector donated N1 billion. The real estate sector represented by Oluchi Okoye donated N4 billion while the food and agricultural sector, represented by Chief Ominife Uzoegbu donated N500 million.

Also making donation at the event attended by President Goodluck Jonathan, his depty, Alhaji Namadi Sambo, Chief Tony Anenih and the PDP National Chairman, Alhaji Adamu Mua’zu among others, Cizaly Ltd donated N250 million while the representatives of the power sector led by Tunde Ayeni donated N500 million.

Other donors at the PDP fund raising dinner include the National Association of Stevedores’ Companies, N25 million; former governor of Ebonyi State Sam Egwu, N1 million; Halima Jubril, N5 million; and Ajuji Best Western Hotel, N1 million; among others.