- Safiu Kehinde
The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has denied alleged imposition of levy on its members for the funding of the party’s activities.
This is coming under the heels of report by a media outlet, The Observer Times, which in its headline of the story alleged that the party had charged its members to contribute N10,000.
Reacting to the report in a statement issued on Sunday by its National Publicity Secretary, Ini Ememobong, the PDP refuted the claim, stressing that the headline does not reflect what was originally stated.
While acknowledging the authenticity of the body of the story alongside the quoted remarks, Ememobong clarified that the party had only called for voluntary contributions which had been one of the models of fundraising since inception.
The PDP spokesperson reiterated that there is no fixed amount, no compulsory payment, and no obligation imposed on any member of the party.
The statement read; “The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has noted with concern a report published by a media platform, The Observer Times, under the misleading headline: “PDP Calls on Members to Contribute N10,000 Each in Bid to Fund Party Activities.” The headline is as false as it is misleading and does not reflect the substance of what was stated.
“Although the body of the report correctly quoted remarks made during the interview, the headline represents either clickbait or a subjective interpretation of the interview. Other credible media organisations reported the same interview accurately, without resorting to sensationalism.
“For the avoidance of doubt, the following is a verbatim excerpt of the response given to a question on how the PDP intends to fund its political activities in the wake of recent defections by some governors:
“The strategy is simple: go back to the people. When the people are with you voluntarily, they fund the cause. In 1998, people made small contributions to fund the party, and that gave them a voice.
“We are returning to that voluntary model. For example, if 60 million Nigerians give N10,000 each, that’s a huge sum. We are already seeing this kind of mass support in states like Plateau and Akwa Ibom.”
“The statement above clearly affirms the PDP’s belief in voluntary contributions, irrespective of amount, as a legitimate and time-tested model of grassroots political funding. The reference to N10,000 was purely illustrative, intended to demonstrate the collective strength of voluntary support, and not a directive, levy, or mandatory contribution.
“Let it be stated unequivocally: there is no fixed amount, no compulsory payment, and no obligation imposed on any member of the PDP.
“We therefore urge our members and the public to discountenance the misleading headline and continue to support the party at all levels in ways they consider appropriate and convenient.”