The ruling Peoples Democratic Party ,PDP is truly a ‘family’. That much was proven again on Sunday in Abuja.Towards the February 25, governorship election in Cross River State, friends and supporters of Senator Liyel Imoke, (PDP) governorship candidate on Sunday, raised over N100 million to support his governorship campaigns.
At the dinner, eleven members of the Cross River State National Assembly Caucus and their nineteen friends were the biggest donors with a donation of N30 million at the fund raising dinner held at the Congress Hall, Transcorp Hilton, Abuja
Rivers State Governor Rotimi Amaechi in his remarks, reminded invitees about provisions of the Electoral Act, which limits the amount of donation to political campaign funds to N1 million.
Amaechi who spoke in his capacity as the Chairman of the Governors Forum however observed that the law does not limit the number of donors, and therefore invitees can donate on behalf of spouses, friends, children and associates. He later donated N6 million on behalf of himself, wife and four commissioners.
The acclaimed leader of the PDP, Chief Tony Anenih with a donation of N5 million on behalf of himself, son and others set set the ball rolling at the ceremony which had who is who in Cross River politics in attendance.
Donations came in trickles of N1 million as the donors played safe to be on the right side of the law. However there were big donations from individuals who announced donations on behalf of self, friends or family.
Some of such donors include Governor Godswill Akpabio of Akwa Ibom who donated N10 million on behalf of himself, family members and friends, all totalling ten. The Cross River State House of Assembly Acting Speaker and Ben Okoko, a businessman respectively toed the same line with a donation of N10 million, also on behalf of friends, family members and associates.
Also, the Speaker of the House of Representatives, Hon Aminu Tambuwal who graced the occasion with his deputy, Hon Emeka Ihedioha however declined from announcing his donation,which he said would comprise contributions from the 360 members of the House.
Some other notable donors includes Delta State Governor Emmanuel Uduaghan, N3 million, Alhaji Bamangar Tukur, N5 million, Senator Muhammed Abba Aji and Senator Florence Ita-Giwa who led a group of associates to donate N4 million.
