The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has denied reports claiming it instructed its members to contribute ₦10,000 each to fund electoral and other party activities.
In a statement released on Sunday, the party’s National Publicity Secretary, Ini Ememobong, accused the media outlet responsible for the report of sensationalising its headline and misrepresenting the PDP’s position.
Ememobong explained that while responding to questions on how the party plans to finance its activities amid recent defections by some governors, the PDP merely referenced voluntary contributions from members and did not impose any form of levy.
He said the report incorrectly suggested that the party had placed a mandatory ₦10,000 charge on its members, describing the claim as a distortion of what was stated during the interview.
According to him, the PDP supports voluntary donations as a legitimate and long-established model of grassroots political funding. He clarified that the mention of ₦10,000 was purely illustrative, used to demonstrate the potential impact of collective support, and not a directive or compulsory contribution.
The party said it was concerned by a report published by The Observer Times with the headline, “PDP Calls on Members to Contribute N10,000 Each in Bid to Fund Party Activities,” which it described as false and misleading.
While noting that the body of the report accurately reflected comments made during the interview, the PDP argued that the headline amounted to clickbait and a subjective interpretation. It added that several other credible media organisations reported the same interview without resorting to sensationalism.
For clarity, the party restated that it intends to return to a voluntary funding model that allows ordinary Nigerians to support the party willingly, similar to the approach adopted in its early years.
The PDP stressed that there is no fixed amount, no compulsory payment, and no obligation placed on any of its members.
It therefore urged party members and the general public to disregard the misleading report and continue to support the party in ways they consider appropriate and convenient.