Peter Obi, the Labour Party’s presidential candidate, has denied making the alleged N2 billion donation to the Christian organizations Pentecostal Fellowship of Nigeria and Christian Association of Nigeria to support his bid for the presidency in the February 25 election.
The disclosure was made by Obi on Monday night’s episode of “Politics Today” on Channels TV.
A viral petition with the date December 15, 2022 and a purported author identified as Pastor Frank Onwumere was reportedly sent to the CAN President, according to a report on Sunday.
According to the petitioner, some “mega-churches” received the N2 billion while other denominations were ignored.
Reacting to the accusation, the CAN said it would probe the source of the petition, in which the allegation was made, describing its content as “untrue and malicious”.
Meanwhile, the Obi-Datti campaign organisation and the pastor whose name was used to sign the purported petition also dismissed it as baseless.
Speaking on the allegation, Obi said, “I don’t even have N2 billion. What am I giving the clerics that kind of money for?
“They are clerics and should be praying for the progress of the country.”
The LP presidential candidate added that the clerics’ followers are suffering from bad governance and can only benefit good leadership by voting for him, adding, “They should be the ones to even support my campaign with money so that I can emerge (the winner) and not the other way round.
“I have never given N1 to CAN.
“If anybody can trace that I have given the Christian body money before, they should prove me wrong and I will back down from my presidential pursuit,” he added.