Labour Party Clarifies Campaign Fund Management in 2023 Elections

The Labour Party (LP) National Chairman, Julius Abure, has clarified the management of the party’s 2023 campaign funds, stating that prominent activist Aisha Yesufu and Pastor Itua Ighodalo were responsible for overseeing the funds, contrary to widespread speculation about the party’s involvement.

bure made these statements during a press conference held after the party’s National Executive Committee (NEC) meeting in Abuja on Monday, where he addressed allegations of financial mismanagement within the party.

Amidst growing concerns and rumours about the handling of campaign finances, Abure firmly denied that the Labour Party had any direct control or involvement in the distribution of the funds used during the 2023 elections.

He emphasised that the party’s primary focus was on securing the presidency, and not on the minutiae of financial administration.

“The party was never involved in the distribution of those resources. Our interest was to see how we could produce a president for the party. How it was done was not our concern,” Abure stated.

He explained that the party had delegated full responsibility for the management of the campaign funds to Aisha Yesufu and Pastor Itua Ighodalo, granting them the authority to handle all related financial activities without interference from the party’s leadership.

Abure went on to highlight the transparency and independence with which Yesufu and Ighodalo managed the funds. “We gave them free rein.

We allowed them to entrust their resources to whomever they wanted. We followed them loyally by allowing them to administer the campaign funds,” he added.

This approach, according to Abure, was part of the Labour Party’s strategy to maintain focus on its political objectives without being bogged down by the complexities of financial oversight.

One of the key points Abure raised was the structure set up for collecting and managing donations during the campaign.

He categorically stated that the Labour Party was not involved in collecting any campaign donations, nor did it handle the finances directly.

Instead, special accounts were created specifically for campaign purposes, with Yesufu and Ighodalo as the authorised signatories.

This arrangement was intended to ensure that the funds were managed independently, thus minimising the risk of financial impropriety and keeping the party’s hands clean of any financial controversies.

“The party was not involved in collecting any campaign donations; they were channelled to accounts opened for campaign purposes, with Aisha Yesufu and Pastor Itua Ighodalo as the signatories,” Abure reiterated.

He also clarified that the payments made to polling unit agents, a crucial aspect of the campaign’s ground operations, were managed by Yesufu and Ighodalo. “They were also responsible for payments to polling unit agents.

The party did not handle the payments to the agents,” he explained, further distancing the party from the operational aspects of campaign funding.

Abure’s statements come in response to widespread media reports and public speculation suggesting that the Labour Party had mismanaged its campaign funds.

These rumours were particularly damaging given the high stakes of the 2023 elections, where financial transparency and integrity were critical issues for voters and stakeholders alike.

By clarifying the roles of Yesufu and Ighodalo, Abure aimed to dispel any misconceptions about the party’s financial conduct and to reaffirm the integrity of the campaign process.

The Labour Party’s decision to entrust the management of its campaign funds to independent figures like Aisha Yesufu and Pastor Itua Ighodalo reflects a broader strategy of decentralising campaign operations and fostering greater accountability.

Both Yesufu and Ighodalo are respected figures known for their integrity and commitment to transparency, which likely influenced the party’s decision to place the campaign’s financial reins in their hands.

This move was seen as a way to shield the party from allegations of corruption and to maintain a clear separation between its political ambitions and the handling of finances.

However, the decision to distance the party from direct financial management has not been without its critics.

Some within the party and among its supporters have questioned whether such an arrangement allowed for sufficient oversight and accountability, particularly given the high level of public scrutiny surrounding election campaigns in Nigeria.

Nonetheless, Abure’s remarks suggest that the Labour Party remains confident in the decisions it made and the individuals it entrusted with its campaign resources.

As the dust settles from the 2023 elections, the Labour Party’s experience serves as a case study in the complexities of campaign finance management in Nigeria’s often tumultuous political landscape.

Abure’s reassurances aim to restore confidence among the party’s supporters and the general public, signalling a commitment to transparency and accountability that the Labour Party hopes will set it apart from its competitors in future elections.

Whether this approach will yield long-term benefits for the party remains to be seen, but for now, the Labour Party stands by its decision to delegate financial oversight to trusted figures outside of its direct leadership.