by James Sambo

After raising N21bn for its presidential campaign, the Peoples Democratic Party remains unsatisfied, and is looking for extra N500m to shore up its campaign warchest.

The responsibility of raising the N500 million was given to the PDP Social Media Group, an online group working for the party.

The National Coordinator of the PDP Social Media Group, Michael Okorie, disclosed to journalists on Monday, January 12, stating that the chairman of the PDP fund-raising committee, Prof. Jerry Gana, had mandated the group to raise the said amount.

Okorie said it was imperative to raise the additional campaign fund, in order to give ordinary Nigerians the opportunity to contribute to the election of the President.

He said: “The donation programme provides an opportunity for Nigerians to take ownership of the re-election of Mr. President by donating any amount they can afford.”

“Based on the achievements of President Jonathan in numerous areas that have improved the lives of Nigerian masses, we at PDP Social Media Group under the mandate of the Directorate of Contact and Mobilisation of the Presidential Campaign Organisation, are mobilising Nigerian masses, to donate in support of his re-election.”

“We are pleased to announce that Nigerians are already donating in support of the re-election of Mr. President via our donation/pledge forms, direct deposit into approved bank accounts and online donations. We are targeting N500m. The donation is being done under the mandate of the PDP and the account is being managed by the party.”

“We are assuring the donors that the bank accounts provided for the donation are entirely under the control of the Fund Raising Committee set up by Mr. President,” Okorie added.