The Tinubu-Shettima Connect has asked the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to disqualify Peter Obi, presidential candidate of the Labour Party, over alleged illegal campaign funding.
The group said it will begin a legal process to stop the Labour Party from participating in the 2023 presidential election for allegedly engaging in activities that contravene the Electoral Act.
In a statement issued and signed by Adebanjo Moyosore, its convener, the group said the Electoral Act makes it illegal to raise campaign funds from abroad through unknown sources or unidentified groups.
Julius Abure, national chairman of the Labour Party, had inaugurated an 11-member diaspora committee to organise fund-raising activities for Obi’s presidential bid.
The party’s diaspora support groups had also pledged to crowd-fund $150 million for Obi, and another N100 billion is to be sourced from supporters in Nigeria.
“Section 85 of the Electoral Act has clearly explained this; Section 85 (a) (b) provides that any political party that: (a) holds or possesses any fund outside Nigeria in contravention of section 225 (3) (a) of the constitution, commits an offence and shall, on conviction, forfeit the funds or assets purchased with such funds to the commission, and in addition, may be liable to a fine of at least N5million, or (b) retain any fund or other asset remitted to it from outside Nigeria in contravention of section 225,” the statement reads.
