The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has denied receiving a petition from 14 political parties over the fund raising dinner held last Friday in Abuja by the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP).

Director of Publicity of the commission, Pastor Segun Adeogun, told Daily Trust on telephone yesterday in Abuja that he had no knowledge of such petition.

Media reports said the 14 protesting political parties under the umbrella of Patriotic Alliance of Nigeria (PAN) include Action Alliance (AA), African Liberation Party (ALP), African Democratic Congress (ADC), Action Party of Nigeria (APN), Citizens Popular Party (CPP), Liberal Democratic Party of Nigeria (LDPN) and Hope Democratic Party (HDP).

Others are New Democrats (ND), Nigeria Peoples Congress (NPC), Peoples Mandate Party (PMP), National Solidarity Democratic Party (NSDP), Republican Party of Nigeria (RPN), Masses Movement of Nigeria (MMN) and United Nigeria Peoples Party (UNPP).

"I have no knowledge of the said petition," Adeogun said.

The deputy director in charge of political parties monitoring and liaison, Mrs. Regina Omo-Agege also said she was not aware of the petition and declined further comments.

The Chief Press Secretary to INEC chairman Maurice Iwu, Mr. Andy Ezeani, also said he did see the petition.

The parties were protesting the N10 billion fundraiser organised to build a secretariat for the ruling party.

They said huge donations made by individuals and companies negated provisions of the Electoral Act, which bars individuals from donating more than N1 million to a political party and also bars companies from giving any funds to parties.