Former Ekiti State government spokesman Lere Olayinka has mocked leaders of the National Democratic Congress (NDC) over a proposal for ordinary Nigerians to contribute between ₦1,000 and ₦2,000 to support the party.
Olayinka reacted to a statement attributed to former Bayelsa State Governor and NDC national leader, Senator Seriake Dickson, who reportedly said the party wants to establish a funding system through which ordinary Nigerians can make small contributions.
“We want to raise money ingeniously by specifying contributions. We want a process where ordinary Nigerians can contribute N1,000 or N2,000, as it happens all over the world,” Dickson was quoted as saying in a post circulating on X.
In his reaction, Olayinka questioned the appeal for small donations by highlighting the political and professional backgrounds of some of the figures associated with the emerging opposition platform.
He listed former Anambra State Governor Peter Obi, former Kano State Governor Rabiu Kwankwaso and Dickson among the party's prominent figures, before sarcastically asking ordinary Nigerians to “go and donate yours.”
Olayinka's post described Obi as a former chairman of Fidelity Bank and former governor of Anambra State, while also listing several businesses and investment interests he attributed to the politician. He similarly highlighted Kwankwaso's previous positions as a federal lawmaker, two-term Kano governor, Minister of Defence and senator.
For Dickson, Olayinka pointed to his previous service in the House of Representatives, two terms as Bayelsa governor and his current position as a senator, as well as his earlier career in the Nigeria Police Force.
The remarks come as the NDC continues to position itself as a major opposition platform ahead of the 2027 general elections. Recent reports indicate that the party is working to strengthen its structure and fundraising mechanisms as it prepares for the political contest.
The proposed small-donor model would, if implemented, allow supporters who may not have access to large sums of money to participate in financing the party. Similar grassroots fundraising approaches have been used by political movements in different countries.
However, Olayinka's reaction has shifted attention to the apparent contrast between the personal resources and political profiles of the party's leading figures and the request for ordinary Nigerians to make relatively small financial contributions.
It remains unclear from the statement circulating online what specific mechanisms the NDC intends to use to collect, account for and publicly disclose such contributions.
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