The National Working Committee of the Labour Party (LP) has called on the National Security Adviser (NSA) and the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) to investigate its 2023 presidential candidate, Peter Obi, activist Aisha Yesufu, Pastor Itua Ighodalo, and leaders of the Afenifere group for alleged misappropriation of campaign funds.
The party claims that over N12 billion and $15 million intended for the 2023 presidential campaign were diverted.
Speaking at a press conference in Abeokuta, the Ogun State capital, the party’s National Publicity Secretary, Abayomi Arabambi, expressed concerns over the alleged financial misconduct.
He criticized Aisha Yesufu, who recently defended herself against accusations of diverting campaign funds, labeling her defense as an attempt to cover up the alleged financial infractions.
In a video posted on her YouTube channel, Yesufu challenged LP chairman Julius Abure, asking him to account for the ‘Labour Party N1,000 Challenge’ campaign donations.
She said, “That statement Abure made was a big fat lie. He thinks it was like those days when they used to do their Labour unionism when nobody had the internet or kept records; those days they got away with everything. When it comes to certain things, I am a very detailed and process-driven person.
“There were times when the fundraising team was frustrated with me because of my insistence on due process. Before Mr Obi came out with his campaign account, the Labour Party had theirs. I have with me here a ‘Labour Party N1,000 Challenge’ post that was tweeted on 24/11/22. It said ‘Take ownership of the LP campaign by donating a minimum of N1,000 to Labour Party Zenith Account 1225832294.
“When that account was opened by Abure, I was very angry. I remember some people harmlessly saying it was no big deal since it was for the same Labour Party campaign. But I insisted that it is not the same thing because we don’t have access to any money that went into the LP account and therefore can’t use it to facilitate the electioneering campaign.
“So for Julius Abure to come out in 2024 to blatantly lie that they were not involved in any campaign, saying it was only Aisha Yesufu and Pastor Itua (is unbelievable). By the way, there are three signatories, not two as he said. Up till now, the LP has not accounted for the money the public donated to them nor have they accounted for the money used to procure forms.”
However, the National Coordinator of the Obedient Movement, Dr. Yunisa Tanko, dismissed the allegations as false and baseless. “The allegations are unfounded. I was present when Aisha Yesufu provided the audited account of the presidential campaign fund, and the truth is that no money is missing from the Labour Party’s accounts,” Tanko said, defending Yesufu and the transparency of the campaign funds.
