Human rights campaigner Aisha Yesufu has appealed to Nigerians to financially back Peter Obi’s ambition to contest the 2027 presidential election, urging supporters to contribute towards the cost of his political campaign.
Yesufu maintained that the former Anambra State governor should not be made to finance the entire electoral project from his personal resources, arguing that citizens seeking a new direction for the country must also be prepared to invest in making that aspiration a reality.
The activist made the appeal in a video circulated on her X page on Wednesday, asking followers of the Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC) presidential hopeful to support a fundraising arrangement that would place the financial responsibility in the hands of ordinary Nigerians.
She explained that the initiative was intended to move away from the traditional practice of leaving politicians to bear campaign expenses, giving citizens an opportunity to contribute directly to the political process.
Yesufu questioned why Nigerians would demand ownership of their country and insist on political transformation while expecting Obi to independently provide the money required to achieve those objectives.
She urged supporters to make voluntary payments, irrespective of their financial capacity, noting that contributions from thousands of individuals could provide considerable resources for campaign operations.
The activist also revisited the crowdfunding arrangement introduced during the 2023 presidential race, revealing that Obi had initially opposed the idea of collecting money from members of the public.
According to her, she had to convince the former governor that allowing supporters to finance the campaign would give them a greater sense of participation and responsibility.
She explained that making financial contributions would establish a stronger connection between citizens and the political movement, as donors would have a personal stake in the outcome of the electoral struggle.
Yesufu further disclosed that the previous fundraising exercise received donations from numerous Nigerians and that the proceeds were recorded, monitored and properly accounted for.
While acknowledging that the initiative attracted negative reactions from some individuals, she defended its administration, insisting that the handling of the money was transparent.
She called for the same approach to be retained for the 2027 election, with improvements where necessary, stressing that campaign financing should not be treated as the exclusive responsibility of the presidential aspirant.
The activist argued that expecting Obi to independently bankroll the entire exercise was unrealistic, particularly when supporters could pool their resources to meet the financial demands of the campaign.
She therefore challenged Nigerians who believe in the political project to contribute whatever they can afford, emphasising that no donation should be considered too small to make a difference.
Meanwhile, Yesufu cautioned supporters against mixing up the account established for Obi’s campaign fundraising with the financial arrangements of the NDC.
She explained that the donation platform being promoted was created specifically to cater for expenses associated with Obi’s presidential ambition and was separate from the political party’s official funding structure.
The activist added that the NDC leadership would independently make its banking information available to members and other interested Nigerians willing to support the party’s activities.
She advised those interested in financing Obi’s campaign to use the designated fundraising channel, while individuals wishing to make donations directly to the NDC should await the party’s official announcement.
