The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has denied reports suggesting that it is collecting the sum of N10,000 each from members to fund party activities.
PDP’s National Publicity Secretary, Comrade Ini Ememobong, in a statement on Sunday, noted that the report published by a media platform, The Observer Times, was false.
He explained that even though the body of the report correctly quoted remarks made during an interview, the headline represents either clickbait or a subjective interpretation of the interview.
Noting that other credible media organisations reported the same interview accurately, without resorting to sensationalism.
Ememobong said for the avoidance of doubt, the following was 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.”
According to him, “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.”
