By Fatima Saka
Senator Victor Umeh has urged the leadership of the Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC) to return an agreed percentage of funds contributed by state chapters to enable them to rent offices and strengthen party operations across the country.
Umeh, who represents Anambra Central Senatorial District in the Senate and is a member of the party’s National Executive Committee (NEC), made the appeal while commending the party leadership for publicly presenting its financial position and accounting for its income and expenditure.
The senator, a former National Chairman of the All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA), described the financial disclosure as a demonstration of transparency and accountability, saying the initiative could establish the NDC as a model for political party administration in Nigeria.
He said the presentation gave him confidence in the party’s financial management, noting that members deserved to know how much money the party received and how the funds were spent.
Umeh said, “What has just happened here gave me goose pimples in my seat because there is no way to demonstrate transparency except by demonstrating it. What the leadership of the party and the people who manage the party have demonstrated is the transparency which NDC is promising Nigeria.
“We have to know how much money we have and how we have spent our money. That is the only way to earn public trust.”
He explained that his experience as APGA national chairman for 10 years had exposed him to political party administration and financial reporting, making him appreciate the significance of the NDC’s decision to present its accounts before party leaders.
According to him, the disclosure would help dispel rumours and unfounded allegations about the party’s finances by providing members with information on its revenue and expenditure.
Umeh noted that although a detailed account would still be presented after the completion of the accounting process, the financial briefing was commendable because it showed the party’s willingness to be held accountable.
He said the party had demonstrated a level of openness that deserved recognition, adding that he had yet to see another political party make a similar presentation to its National Executive Committee.
The former APGA chairman also commended the party’s financial managers for their prudence, noting that the NDC had retained more than N6 billion from approximately N8 billion in funds available during the period under consideration.
He, however, cautioned that the remaining funds would not be sufficient to meet all the party’s obligations, particularly as it prepared to commence campaign activities and other programmes ahead of the 2027 general elections.
“Six billion naira that we have is seed money for the operations of this party. We know that we have a lot to do. That six billion will not do anything much for the party, but it is seed money,” he said.
Umeh added that the money was contributed by members of the party, stressing the need for more financial support as the NDC prepares to launch its campaign council and implement its political programmes.
He encouraged party members to consider ways of supporting the organisation financially to enable it to meet its obligations and expand its activities.
Beyond commending the party’s financial management, the senator called on the NEC to consider approving a percentage of funds collected from state chapters during political party nomination and election processes for redistribution to the chapters.
He explained that political parties traditionally generate substantial revenue during nomination exercises, with contributions coming from different states and chapters.
According to him, returning part of the money to the chapters would help them sustain their operations, rent offices and organise activities without constantly struggling to secure funding from the national leadership.
“I would like to make an appeal to the leadership of the party, going by the convention we have followed in the past among some of my colleagues who were leaders of political parties.
“After every election nomination process, that is when the party makes money, and that money comes from various states and chapters in the party,” he said.
Umeh maintained that a transparent formula should be considered for allocating a percentage of the revenue to the state chapters from which the funds originated.
He said such an arrangement would encourage grassroots participation, strengthen the party’s structures and ensure that state chapters had the resources required to promote the party’s programmes.
Using an analogy to explain the need for fairness, he said contributions from different chapters should be recognised in a manner that reflects their capacity and participation.
“If we are able to follow this transparent process, I will tell you that this party will become a cornerstone in party administration in Nigeria,” he said.
Umeh reaffirmed his support for the party’s leadership, expressing confidence that the financial disclosure would help build trust among members and reinforce the NDC’s commitment to transparency.
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He urged the NEC to consider his proposal as part of efforts to establish a sustainable financial structure that would support the party’s national leadership and its state-level operations.
The senator’s appeal comes as the NDC prepares to intensify its political activities, including the planned launch of its campaign council, with the party seeking to consolidate its structures and mobilise resources ahead of future electoral contests.
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