A former National Treasurer of the Labour Party, Oluchi Oparah, has refuted allegations that former Anambra State Governor and 2023 presidential candidate, Peter Obi, misappropriated party funds during his campaign.
Speaking on Channels Television’s The Morning Brief on Thursday, Oparah labelled the accusations as “false and baseless,” asserting that Obi personally financed his presidential bid and even contributed significantly to the party’s financial stability.
Responding to claims by Labour Party chieftain Abayomi Arabambi that Obi used party resources for his campaign, Oparah said: “There was nothing of such. Mr Obi never spent any money meant for the party.”
She praised Obi’s contribution to the party’s survival during a period of financial difficulty, noting his pivotal role in lifting the Labour Party from a precarious economic position.
“In fact, he lifted the party from zero level to where it is today,” she added.
According to Oparah, prior to Obi’s involvement, the party struggled to meet basic obligations such as staff salaries. She stressed that the former governor consistently met financial expectations using his personal resources without ever demanding reimbursement or favours.
“Mr Obi fulfilled every righteousness financially towards the Labour Party. There was never a time he asked for a dime from the party—unlike other political parties would do,” she said.
Oparah also clarified that it is standard political procedure for candidates to maintain separate campaign accounts, independent of the party’s official funds. She insisted that many of the party’s election-related programmes were sponsored solely by Obi. “He spent a lot of money on the Labour Party. We have programmes that Mr Obi solely financed by himself. Obi spent from his money because the Labour Party did not have a dime,” she explained.
Challenging critics to provide evidence, Oparah urged them to reveal any bank records that prove financial transactions to the party’s account. “So, anyone claiming whatsoever should come out to show us the particular account to which they paid whatever thing they say they paid to the Labour Party,” she stated.
She emphasized Obi’s genuine commitment to the party and urged Nigerians to focus on the shortcomings of the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) rather than targeting Obi, whom she described as consistently transparent.
Defending his longstanding record of generosity, Oparah said Obi’s charitable nature long predates his political ambitions. “Anyone that knows Mr Obi very well knows that his act of charity is five and six, like the air he breathes,” she concluded, calling on the public to evaluate Obi based on his integrity rather than political attacks.
