A former National Treasurer of the Labour Party, LP, Oluchi Oparah, has absolved the party’s 2023 presidential candidate, Mr Peter Obi, of spending the party’s funds during his 2023 campaign.

Rather than spend LP’s money, Oparah said Obi personally financed his activities and even contributed financially to the party, a party she said had no money.

Appearing on Channels Television, she said: “There was nothing of such. Mr. Obi never spent any money meant for the party,” Oparah said in response to allegation by a chieftain of the LP, Abayomi Arabambi, that Obi spent party funds on his campaign.

“In fact, he lifted the party from zero level to where it is today,” she added.

She said Obi met all the financial requirements expected of him and even made donations to the party from his resources. She said that prior to Obi’s defection to the party, the Labour Party was heavily indebted and unable to pay the salaries of its employees.

“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 will do,” she stated.

The former treasurer also addressed the structure of campaign financing, noting that every candidate running for office was entitled to operate their campaign account, separate from the party’s official accounts.

She explained that the Labour Party also maintained its financial accounts for party activities.

“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,” Oparah said.

Oparah challenged those accusing Obi of financial misconduct to publicly present evidence of financial misconduct by the former governor of Anambra state.

“As far as I am concerned, Mr Obi was the only person who showed interest in contesting on the platform of the Labour Party. 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 maintained.

On the matter of charity, Oprah described his philanthropic activities as a consistent trait long before his time as a presidential candidate, adding, “Anyone that knows Mr Obi very well knows that his act of charity is five and six, like the air he breathes.”

Oparah urged critics of Obi and Labour Party to focus their energy on the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) which she accused of corruption and lack of accountability.