Aisha Yesufu, a prominent activist and supporter of Peter Obi, has appealed to Nigerians to contribute financially to Obi's 2027 presidential campaign. In a video shared on her X account, Yesufu emphasized that citizens who desire political change must be willing to contribute to the process. She argued that it would be unfair for supporters to demand national transformation while expecting Obi to provide all the resources required to prosecute the campaign.
Yesufu's appeal is centered on the idea of giving ordinary Nigerians an opportunity to take ownership of the political process rather than depending entirely on the candidate to finance his ambition. She encouraged Nigerians to make financial contributions, regardless of how small they might be, stressing that collective donations could help provide the resources needed for campaign activities. According to Yesufu, this approach would make supporters feel more involved in the political movement because they would have personally invested in its activities.
The fundraising approach is not entirely new, as supporters organized a similar exercise during the 2023 presidential election. Yesufu disclosed that Obi was initially uncomfortable with the idea of public fundraising at the time but was persuaded that allowing Nigerians to contribute would encourage greater participation and strengthen their emotional connection to the campaign. The 2023 fundraising exercise attracted donations from different supporters, and the money received was properly documented and accounted for.
Yesufu clarified that the fundraising account being promoted is specifically intended for activities connected to Obi's presidential campaign and should not be confused with the official fundraising arrangements of the Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC). She explained that the political party would separately announce its banking details for members and other supporters interested in contributing directly to its operations. Nigerians who wish to support Obi's personal campaign activities should make use of the designated account.
The activist addressed concerns surrounding the handling of public donations, assuring Nigerians that transparency would remain a major part of the exercise. She said contributors would be able to hold those managing the funds accountable, regardless of the amount involved. Yesufu maintained that she had fulfilled the responsibility of accounting for donations received during the 2023 election and promised to maintain the same standard ahead of the next presidential poll.
Obi, who contested the 2023 presidential election under the Labour Party, is now associated with the NDC ahead of the next election. He finished third in the presidential election, behind Bola Tinubu of the All Progressives Congress and Atiku Abubakar of the Peoples Democratic Party. Yesufu's call for citizen-funded campaigns is seen as a way to promote greater participation and inclusivity in the political process.
The initiative has sparked a national conversation about the role of citizens in funding political campaigns and the need for transparency in the management of public donations. As the 2027 presidential election approaches, it remains to be seen how Nigerians will respond to Yesufu's call to action and whether the citizen-funded campaign model will gain traction.
Key points
- Aisha Yesufu has called on Nigerians to contribute financially to Peter Obi's 2027 presidential campaign.
- The fundraising approach aims to give ordinary Nigerians an opportunity to take ownership of the political process.
- Yesufu assured Nigerians that transparency would remain a major part of the exercise, with contributors able to hold those managing the funds accountable.
