The former National Treasurer of the Labour Party (LP), Oluchi Oparah, has dismissed allegations that Peter Obi, the party’s 2023 presidential candidate, used party funds for his campaign.
In an interview on Channels Television’s “The Morning Brief” on Thursday, Oparah insisted that Obi not only financed his own campaign but also provided significant financial support to the party.
Oparah’s comments were a direct response to a claim by a different LP chieftain, Abayomi Arabambi, who alleged that Obi spent party funds on his presidential run.
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Oparah stated, “There was nothing of such. Mr. Obi never spent any money meant for the party.”
She further added that Obi’s financial contributions were instrumental in stabilising the party, which she said was heavily in debt and unable to pay staff salaries before he joined.
According to Oparah, the 64-year-old fulfilled all financial requirements expected of a candidate and even made personal donations to the party.
She clarified that campaign financing structures are distinct from party accounts, with each candidate maintaining a separate account for their activities.
She challenged anyone making claims of financial misconduct to provide evidence of payments they allegedly made to the party.
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Oparah also used the platform to criticise what she described as a lack of accountability in the current administration and urged Nigerians to focus on holding the ruling party responsible, rather than attacking Obi.
She praised Obi’s philanthropic nature, noting that his acts of charity were a long-standing trait, not just a recent development.
