The Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC) has found itself at the centre of a controversy over donations and campaign financing following allegations by some aspirants and renewed debate over the party’s funding arrangements.

Our correspondents report that major groups aligned with the party, including the Kwankwasiyya Movement, made up of supporters of former Kano State governor Rabiu Musa Kwankwaso, and the Obidient Movement, which supports the party’s presidential candidate, Peter Obi, have largely conducted their activities independently.

Sources within the party said the leadership became concerned that allowing various support groups to operate separate fundraising structures could eventually create conflicts of interest and undermine accountability.

National Leader of the NDC, Senator Seriake Dickson, recently admitted that the financial capacity of aspirants is one of the factors considered during candidate selection, saying resources are critical in electoral contests, particularly for opposition parties.

Dickson, however, denied allegations that the party sells nomination tickets to the highest bidder.

Speaking during an interview on Arise News, the former Bayelsa State governor said it was legitimate for party stakeholders to ask governorship aspirants how they intended to fund their campaigns.

“This is an opposition party. In the real political world, resources are key,” he said.

He added: “It is perfectly legitimate for the NDC to ask aspirants about their sources of funding. I’m sure that’s what the stakeholders did.”

Dickson was responding to allegations that some aspirants were favoured because of their financial strength, while others accused the party of commercialising its nomination process.

He maintained that while the ability to raise funds may be considered, party tickets were not awarded to the highest bidder.

“The NDC does not sell nomination forms or nomination tickets based on how much money people have,” he said.

According to him, the party receives only legitimate donations and contributions made openly by aspirants.

“What we have done, because we are a self-funding and self-sustaining party, is that aspirants make contributions and donations to the party account, and that is legitimate,” he said.

He added that the arrangement applies to all categories of aspirants, including presidential aspirants.

Dickson further stated that the party offered its presidential platform without demanding money from its flagbearers.

“We gave our platform to them without any discussion of money. We are not a party that does that,” he said.

The senator attributed complaints arising from the primaries to the challenges associated with direct primaries and the rapid expansion of the party.

Responding to concerns over donations, the NDC National Publicity Secretary, Osa Director, denied that there was any rift within the party.

He said donations by party members were voluntary and neither compulsory nor fixed.

“The idea is to enable members who wish to contribute to the growth of the party to do so and have a sense of belonging,” he said.

Director added that no member was required to send money to the party’s national leader or any other individual, explaining that all donations were paid directly into official party accounts to ensure accountability and transparency.

According to him, this was why the party had introduced strict regulations on campaign financing.

He said the party was being built as an institution rather than a personality cult, political movement or special purpose vehicle.

The NDC spokesman added that candidates at all levels would be required to disclose the sources of their campaign funds and contributions made to their campaign accounts.

He further stated that all campaign funds must pass through designated party accounts, including those established for presidential and governorship campaigns.

Spokesman of the Obidient Movement, Dr Yunusa Tanko, described the directive requiring campaign donations to Peter Obi’s presidential campaign to be channelled through designated party accounts as a welcome development.

Tanko said donations to the Obidient Movement should be distinguished from campaign donations meant for Obi’s presidential bid, noting that the movement is largely funded through voluntary contributions from members.

“It has always been like that. The Obidient Movement is funded through voluntary donations from members, while campaign donations are channelled through designated party accounts for accountability purposes,” he said.

According to him, the arrangement is consistent with the Electoral Act and promotes transparency in political financing.

The controversy gained momentum after some aspirants alleged that party leaders requested financial contributions ahead of the recently concluded primaries.

Although the NDC leadership maintained that only successful aspirants would be required to pay nomination fees, allegations resurfaced following claims made by a Nollywood actor and lawyer who served as one of the official spokespersons for the Peter Obi/Yusuf Datti Presidential Campaign Council during the 2023, Kenneth Okonkwo.

Okonkwo recently released what he described as documentary evidence in support of allegations that aspirants were pressured to make payments during the party’s primary elections.

The actor-turned-politician alleged that some House of Representatives aspirants were required to make payments beyond the officially prescribed fees.

However, one of the individuals referenced in the controversy, Obunike Ohaegbu, reportedly denied accusing Peter Obi of demanding or receiving money from aspirants.

He stated that he never claimed that Peter Obi was the head of the alleged extortion ring. He issued a strong challenge, stating that if any proof exists of him claiming that Obi asked for or received N10m, he would publicly apologise and resign from politics.

Meanwhile, Peter Obi has threatened legal action against Okonkwo over the allegations.

A letter by Obi’s legal counsel dated June 9, 2026, and signed by Chief Alex Ejesieme, SAN, of Alex Ejesieme (SAN) & Co. (Madiba Chambers) described Okonkwo’s allegations as fabricated and damaging.

According to the letter, Okonkwo allegedly claimed that “Obi, together with the leaders of the Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC) in the South-East, informed the party’s aspirants that any person seeking to contest as a member of the House of Representatives must, after paying the prescribed expression of interest fee, pay a bribe of ten million Naira (N10,000,000.00) to the NDC and to the caucus leaders.”

The lawyers also alleged that Okonkwo claimed there was documentary evidence of the payments, that Obi personally compiled the party’s list of candidates from a hotel room, collected money from people abroad and was involved in criminal activities alongside other party leaders.

“The above statements, in their natural and ordinary meaning, and by necessary implication, falsely and maliciously represent our client as a person who demands, solicits, organises and collects bribes; who extorts, defrauds and swindles political aspirants of their money; who is a fraudster, a scammer and a dishonest political actor; and who, in concert with others, is engaged in criminal conspiracy and is actively perpetuating criminality,” the letter read.

Obi’s legal team argued that the statements went beyond political commentary and amounted to a direct attack on Obi’s integrity and public reputation.

The lawyers demanded that Okonkwo, within seven days of receiving the letter, withdraw the statements, publish an “unequivocal and unreserved” apology, and ensures the apology receives the same or greater prominence as the original publication.

The legal team warned that failure to comply would leave Obi with no option but to seek redress in court.

A senior party chieftain, who spoke on condition of anonymity, said the atmosphere had become more politically charged because of the positions taken by key actors involved.

He noted that Okonkwo had openly expressed support for Atiku Abubakar, the presidential candidate of the African Democratic Congress (ADC), ahead of the 2027 general election.