LP Clears Air On Election Expenditures

The Labour Party Presidential Campaign Council has made a further clarification on the party’s election expenditures.

This is contained in a statement signed by the Chief Spokesperson of the Obi-Datti Campaign Committee, Dr. Yunusa Tanko, in Abuja.

According to the statement there is need to clear the air on wrong analysis being given to some aspects of the expenses released to the public by the campaign office.

“The attention of the Labour Party Presidential Campaign otherwise known as Obi-Datti Presidential Campaign has been drawn to the wrong analysis being given to some aspects of expenses released to the public by our campaign office”.

It explains that the erroneous impression in the media that the expended sum of N744,500,000.00 were legal fees to lawyers from the party is incorrect and far from the truth.

“The legal fee to our lawyers remain a personal thing but our compound expenses on legal matters cannot be tied to lawyers. Also involved in this sum are research, accommodations, transportation both local and international flights, as well as stationery of our various documents” Tanko stresses.

According to the statement the party will like to be on the same page with the public on this matter adding that legal expenses are different from legal fees

“Legal expenses encompasses all the things concerning our legal cases, ranging from pre-election to post-election legal processes. The filing of cases before elections, on matters involving our candidate, transmitting and photocopying of legal documents, bringing experts from overseas during our post-election legal battles, and their accommodation all form the legal expenses” Dr. Tanko explains.

”Also included were the funding of lawyers sent to States to collect electoral materials from INEC State offices and financial assistance to some of the candidates of the Party who had legal issues, among others.

“As a body determined to inject sanity into our polity, We will continue in the right direction in ensuring that we transparently account for these funds.

“We continue to thank those who assisted us in one way or the other, especially our legal team at the Presidential Election Petition Tribunal, whose hard work and sacrifices remain immeasurable, despite the outcome of our election petitions, which can only be blamed on the Nigerian factor.

The statement assures Nigerians, especially the youths, that a New Nigeria is possible, and calls for more commitment on the journey irrespective of the present challenges been faced.

PR/By Georgina Humphrey