The Labour Party (LP) has accused former presidential candidate Peter Obi of operating outside party structures during the 2023 elections, alleging financial secrecy and a lack of transparency in campaign spending.

Speaking on Channels Television, LP Publicity Secretary Abayomi Arambri criticised Obi for what he described as a unilateral approach to party finances and election strategy.

He claimed that Obi, upon joining the party, spent ₦32 million on nomination processes but failed to support the party or its candidates with campaign funding beyond that.

“Peter Obi did not give the Labour Party or any of its candidates a single kobo after his nomination,” Arambri said. “He told us ‘we don’t spend shishi,’ yet claimed to have spent ₦800 million on litigation. I challenge him to prove it.”

Arambri also alleged that Obi and two unnamed allies opened undisclosed bank accounts to manage campaign funds without the party’s knowledge or authorisation. He said they later sought a letter of introduction from the party after the accounts had already been created.

“We know the banks and the account numbers. They went ahead and opened four different accounts before informing the party. How do you run a political campaign like that?” he queried.

The official claimed that during the internal leadership crisis between the Abure and Apapa factions of the party, Obi aligned with individuals who “rigged out the party from within.”

He also accused Obi of failing to deploy polling agents in most voting centres, saying the party had only 54,000 agents out of a possible 199,000. “He went to court without results from most polling units because agents were not paid,” Arambri stated.

On claims that Obi donated to churches and other institutions, Arambri expressed doubts. “Obi’s people say he donated over ₦600 million in one year. Where is the evidence? The party never received such funds.”

He concluded that the party leadership, including the national chairman and secretary, had no access to the accounts allegedly operated by Obi’s team. “This is the man who wants to govern Nigeria? There’s no transparency. No accountability,” he said.