The Peoples Democratic Party on Saturday, organised its fund-raising dinner towards next year’s general election. The dinner held at the Banquet Hall of the Presidential Villa. The president, Dangote Group, Alhaji Aliko Dangote, who was billed to be the chief launcher, was absent at the dinner but the event received huge financial commitment from those present.

It was donation extravaganza, as the Peoples Democratic Party realised more than N21 billion at the event from donors spanning business, elected government officials, and private individuals. Professor Jerry Gana chaired the fund raising committee

Chief Tunde Ayeni opened the donations with N1 billion on behalf of himself and his group of friends. He also announced the donation of another N2 billion on behalf of a different group of friends he said came from across the country.

On his part, Gana donated N5 billion on behalf of his friends, while the National Automotive Council donated N450 million. Bauchi State Governor, Isa Yuguda who spoke on behalf of PDP Governors’ Forum, comprising 21 PDP state governors donated N50 million each and bringing the total amount to N1.05 billion

Bola Shagaya from Kwara state representing oil and gas industry donated N5 billion while the construction sector donated N310 million.

The chairman of Deep Offshore, Didi Ndimou, representing the Transport and Aviation sector donated N1 billion. The real estate sector represented by Oluchi Okoye donated N4 billion while the food and agricultural sector, represented by Chief Ominife Uzoegbu donated N500 million. Cizaly Ltd donated N250 million while the representatives of the power sector led by Tunde Ayeni donated N500 million.

Other donors at the PDP fund raising dinner include the National Association of Stevedores’ Companies, N25 million; former governor of Ebonyi State Sam Egwu, N1 million; Halima Jubril, N5 million; and Ajuji Best Western Hotel, N1 million; among others.

Worried by the threat the opposition All Progressives Congress (APC) poses in the 2015 election, Gana, who is the chairman of the PDP Fund Raising committee called on members of the part not to relent.

He equally warned that unlike the previous elections, 2015 will be keenly contested.

He cautioned PDP against taking anything for granted, adding that the 2015 election would be very competitive.

Gana charged the party to use its campaign to show Nigerians what it had achieved for the country in the last 16 years.

"Let me use this opportunity to say that the forthcoming general election is essentially going to be a two-party affair. It will be very competitive.

"I therefore appeal to the leadership of our great party that we must not take things for granted. We must campaign. We must not underestimate the opposition. We have to show people what we have done in the last 16 years.

"Having a very good candidate is very important and I can tell everyone that our presidential candidate is good" Gana said.

He stressed that the recently held primaries of the party, had widened the gulf within the party is some states.

Gana however warned PDP's leadership against imposing unpopular candidates on Nigerians.

"I must tell you that we have serious challenges and difficulties in a number of states arising from the primaries. And I want to appeal that our party's leadership must not impose unpopular candidates on the people of the Federal Republic of Nigeria" Gana said.

He expressed confidence that PDP would coast home to victory at the polls.

The national chairman of the PDP, Alhaji Adamu Muazu, said the party needed financial resources to prosecute the 2015 general elections.