PDP NWC speaks on N1bn bribery report

The National Working Committee (NWC) of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) after the NWC meeting in Abuja on Tuesday night, reiterated that the money paid to its national officers was not a bribe but housing allowance, insisting that it passed through due process.

The PDP National Publicity Secretary, Debo Ologunagba, in a statement on Tuesday night, indicated that the NWC at its meeting thoroughly examined the strange publication by a particular newspaper which reported that the housing allowance legally paid by the Party to its national officers was bribe.

Ologunagba stated: “After a thorough scrutiny of the payment by the party, the NWC in session established that the payment was not a bribe but housing allowance.

“Allowance duly approved and paid to national officers of the party in line with the conditions of service and entitlement of the staff and principal officers of the party.

“The NWC also established that the payment passed through due process procedures of the party in accordance with all extant financial regulations and payment approval processes of the party.

“It Is also instructive to state that the national officers who returned their housing allowances equally confirmed and affirmed at the meeting that the payment was not bribe.

“They affirmed it was their due entitlements in line with the Conditions of service and entitlement of the staff and principal officers of the party.”

The National Publicity Secretary noted that “considering the above, the NWC resolved to conduct an extensive investigation into the circumstances surrounding the said publication by the newspaper of September 26.”

He emphasized that the newspaper publication was clearly targeted to cause disaffection among PPD members and stakeholders, including bringing the party to disrepute before its teeming supporters all over the world, particularly, in an election year.

“Consequently, the NWC has set up an Investigative Committee headed by the National Legal Adviser to conduct an inquiry into the source of the said malicious and injurious publication,” Ologunagba said.

He said that the committee has one week to investigate the matter and report back to the NWC for further action.