Sahara Reporters founder asks Nigerians for $2m to run for president

Founder of online newspaper Sahara Reporters, Omoyele Sowore, has asked for willing donors to contribute to his campaign to run for president in the 2019 general elections.

Sowore, who announced his intention to run for president on Sunday, February 25, 2018, set up his GoFundMe account on Tuesday, March 13, to raise $2 million for his campaign next year.

[No available link text]

On the GoFundMe page, titled "Take Back Nigeria Movement!", Sowore said his candidacy "can bring forth a new set of patriotic and conscientious leaders that will create the Nigeria that we all long for."

He announced early on Wednesday, March 14, that he had raised more than $2,000, just hours before the account was later suspended by GoFundMe administrators who said they were reviewing the account.

Sowore alleged that the suspension of his account is an act of sabotage by political opponents who have panicked and "reported the fundraising effort considering how successful it was."

2019 presidential race

Motivational speaker and leadership coach, Fela Durotoye, became the second aspirant to officially declare his intention to contest for president after he joined the Alliance for a New Nigeria (ANN) on Thursday, February 22.

Ekiti State governor, Ayodele Fayose,remains the only other candidate to have officially declared his intention to contest after his announcement in September 2017.

Former governor of Cross River State, Donald Duke, belongs to a growing list of prominent Nigerians who have dropped hints that they may contest in the 2019 presidential elections.

Founder of the Latter Rain Assembly, PastorTunde Bakare revealed to his congregation on January 1, 2018, that God wants him to run for president despite his plan to quit politics for good.

Even though President Muhammadu Buhari has refused to officially declare his reelection bid, he has also dropped hints over the past two months, and is expected to face former Vice President, Atiku Abubakar, who is also in contention.