The Labour Party (LP) has appealed to members of the party to assist with funds, saying presidential election is very expensive.

The Labour Party said the LP presidential candidate, Peter Obi, cannot fund the campaigns alone, noting that the greatest challenge that the party may likely have ahead of the 2023 general election is funding.

The national chairman of the Labour Party, Julius Abure, said this at the inauguration of party’s Presidential Campaign Council in Abuja on Friday.

Abure said: “The task is not an easy one because we are competing against parties that have the resources and common patrimony and ready to deploy it in the election.

“Presidential election is very expensive, it is very costly, our slogan is that we don’t give shishi but this time around, we have to look for money.

“The presidential candidate cannot fund the campaigns alone, he does not have the money, the greatest challenge that we are likely to have in this campaign is with funding.

“Our presidential candidate was a governor in Anambra, he is the only governor known not to have embezzled money, he kept N75 billion in the account of Anambra State and he is the only governor not on pension.

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“The point I am making is that he cannot fund the presidential campaigns alone, therefore, all of us in this council have the responsibility to join hands with the party to see how we can raise funds for this campaign.

“Nigerians have realised that they need to take back the country; the massive support and followership enjoyed in recent times show the people are ready and determined to take back their country by voting for character, pedigree, competence and capability.”

The LP chairman, who congratulated the members of the campaign council, tasked them on hardwork to guarantee victory for the party in 2023.

Abure said it was not an easy task to arrive at the council list, saying the search was based on character, capability, and pedigree which the Obi-Datti movement represented.

He stated that the party did background checks on the campaign council members and found them worthy of the appointment.

Abure, however, called on all the PCC members to bring their experiences and expatriates to bear and engage in grassroots work to deliver victory for the party.

The LP had earlier released a 1,453 presidential campaign council list.

The Director-General of the council remained Dr Doyin Okupe, while Zarewa would serve as the chairman.

Some of the members include Oseloka Obaze, who will serve as Deputy Director-General and Campaign Manager, and Yusuf Maitama, Deputy Director-General (North).

Also in the council are Yunusa Tanko, who will serve as spokesperson, while Clement Ojukwu, will serve as the Secretary.

Denzel Ketenbe will serve as Deputy Director-General (South); Isaac Balami, Deputy Campaign Manager 1; and Eyitemi Taire, Deputy Campaign Manager 2; among others.

The Star