'We Never Ask Members To Pay ₦10,000 For Party Activities'

‘We Never Ask Members To Pay ₦10,000’ – PDP
Party insists funding model is voluntary contributions only
₦10,000 reference described as illustrative, not compulsory

The Peoples Democratic Party has dismissed claims that it directed its members to contribute ₦10,000 each to fund electoral and party activities, describing the report as misleading and sensational.

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EKO HOT BLOG reports that in a statement issued on Sunday, the PDP National Publicity Secretary, Ini Ememobong, said the party never imposed any levy on its members and accused the platform that published the report of twisting facts for attention.

Ememobong explained that the controversy arose from comments made during an interview on how the party intends to finance its activities following recent defections by some governors. According to him, the party only spoke about voluntary contributions and did not mandate any fixed amount.

He clarified that the reference to ₦10,000 was used purely as an illustration to explain how collective voluntary support could strengthen the party financially, not as a directive or compulsory contribution.

“The Peoples Democratic Party 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 statement read.

“The headline is as false as it is misleading and does not reflect the substance of what was stated.”

Ememobong noted that while the body of the report quoted the interview correctly, the headline amounted to clickbait and subjective interpretation. He added that other credible media organisations reported the same interview accurately without sensationalism.

Quoting the party’s position, he said: “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.”

He stressed that the PDP believes in voluntary contributions of any amount as a time tested grassroots funding model and reiterated that no member is under obligation to pay any fixed sum.

‘We Never Ask Members To Pay ₦10,000’ – PDP

“There is no compulsory payment, no fixed amount, and no levy imposed on any member of the PDP,” Ememobong said, urging the public to disregard the misleading report.