NDC Declares ₦8.5bn Income, ₦6.1bn Balance Ahead of 2027 Elections
NDC Declares ₦8.5bn Income, ₦6.1bn Balance Ahead of 2027 Elections
By Akin Alade
The Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC) has brought political party financing into the national spotlight after declaring that it generated approximately ₦8.5 billion within seven months, spent ₦2.4 billion and retained about ₦6.1 billion ahead of the 2027 general elections.
The disclosure has opened a fresh conversation about financial accountability, campaign funding and the responsibility of political parties to explain how money collected from members, aspirants and supporters is managed.
Presenting the financial statement during the party’s National Executive Committee (NEC) meeting in Abuja, NDC National Treasurer, Dr Peter Onigah, explained that the revenue came from nomination forms, membership dues, levies and voluntary contributions. Expenditure reportedly covered party primaries, publicity, staff salaries and other political activities.
With approximately 71.8 per cent of its declared income remaining after expenditure, the opposition party enters a crucial stage of preparations for the 2027 elections with substantial reported resources. However, the figures are preliminary, and the party has yet to publish its fully audited financial statements.
NDC National Chairman, Senator Moses Cleopas, described the financial disclosure as a demonstration of accountability, insisting that party members deserved to know how their contributions were being utilised. He maintained that the decision reflected the leadership’s commitment to openness.
The development comes as the NDC intensifies preparations for the presidential election, with Peter Obi as its presidential candidate and Rabiu Musa Kwankwaso as his running mate. The party has also unveiled its presidential campaign council and inaugurated its national secretariat in Abuja as part of efforts to strengthen its electoral machinery.
Beyond the substantial revenue declaration, attention may now shift to whether the NDC can provide a comprehensive breakdown of its income sources, expenditure categories and financial commitments. Such disclosures would offer Nigerians an opportunity to assess how political organisations manage resources before seeking control of public funds.
Senator Victor Umeh, representing Anambra Central, welcomed the financial presentation but called for greater funding of state chapters. He argued that grassroots structures required adequate resources to establish functional offices, mobilise supporters and sustain political activities across the federation.
Responding, Cleopas assured party leaders that the distribution of resources to state chapters was receiving attention and would be handled in accordance with the party’s constitution. He also disclosed that reconciliation efforts were ongoing to address disagreements arising from party primaries and strengthen internal unity ahead of the elections.
The financial declaration also raises a broader question for Nigeria’s political system: should all registered political parties routinely publish accessible financial statements showing their sources of income, campaign expenditure and outstanding financial obligations? Such transparency could strengthen public confidence and encourage greater scrutiny of political financing.
For the NDC, the immediate challenge extends beyond announcing billions of naira in revenue. The party must demonstrate that its financial management practices are consistent with the accountability principles it advocates in national governance.
As preparations for the 2027 general elections gather momentum, the NDC’s financial disclosure could become an important test of whether political parties are prepared to embrace greater transparency. Ultimately, public confidence will depend not merely on the amount of money declared but on independently verifiable records showing how the funds were raised, managed and spent.
