Campaign Funding: APC targets N50billion

•N10billion expected from the public
 •To raise another N30billion from govs, lawmakers

Following the postponement of the general elections and faced with difficulty of campaign funding, the All Progressives Congress, APC, is set to raise N10billion from the general public through direct contribution. Another N40billion will come from donations and contributions from the party’s elected members including state governors to take the money being shopped for to N50 billion. According to a source close to the APC hierarchy, the party, for a while, had been facing financial challenges arising from the shift in elections and issues with banks handling its campaign scratch cards.

 

Until its pact with the banks hit the rocks, it was agreed that 15% each would go to the GSM operators, the Buhari Support Organisation, and the company that initiated the idea, while the remaining 55% is for the APC Presidential Campaign Organisation. However, the banks, the source said, are reluctant to remit the money. At a meeting in Abuja of the APC hierarchy including some party EXCO members, some state chairmen, gubernatorial candidates and the presidential candidate, General Muhammed Buhari, it was decided, according to the source, that the party, with the window of opportunity provided by the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, should raise N10b from the general public. The APC, the source said, is targeting another N10 billion from donations, while another N30 billion is to be raised from within the party made up of donations from state governors on the platform of the party, members in the National Assembly and state Houses of Assembly to make up a targeted N50 billion at the end of the day. According to her, the APC intends to use the method of distributing between five and ten thousand padlocked boxes (suitcases) across the wards and LGAs nation-wide. The party had, on the heels of the postponement, alleged that it was aimed at straining it financially to the advantage of the PDP.

 

Vanguard.