Presidential candidate of the Labour Party (LP) for the 2023 general elections, Peter Obi, has denied receiving $150 million, allegedly donated by Nigerians in the diaspora.
The Tinubu-Shettima Connect had urged the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to disqualify the former Anambra Governor over the alleged funding, as it violates the new Electoral Act on campaign funding.
Peter Obi, who had earlier left Nigeria on August 25 to drum support from Nigerians abroad, broke his silence on the issue during a meeting with Nigerians in London, on Tuesday, where he denied the report, adding that it was a mere speculation.
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He maintained that the purpose of his consultative visit was not to gather funds to run the electoral campaigns, but to ensure that Nigerians in the countries he visited also partake in the election process.
Obi, who has received widespread support from many young Nigerians, called for the 2023 elections to be based on merit.
His words;
Nobody has given me anything. That is speculation. What I need is not what they would give me. But what they would give Nigeria, because we need them to turn around Nigeria.
This is the energy, the capacity that we need to turn around Nigeria. Every country that was turned around, was done by the diaspora. Even in the Bible, Joseph who left later came back to feed his people.
It is not campaign, it is consultation. I am consulting Nigerian diasporans to know why they should be involved in the Nigerian electoral process. And you can see from my conversation and everything that what I am doing is saying let’s get involved.
They are the most critical components of turning around Nigeria. The investment Nigeria needs to turn around is diasporans. If they believe in Nigeria and bring their resources, both in terms of their material, talent and energy, we will turn around the country.
Nigeria 2023 election should not be based on ethnicity, religion, connection, ‘my turn’, or any bias. It must be on character, competence, capacity and determination to deal with the problems of Nigeria.
