By Odunewu Olusegun
Investigation by National Daily has revealed that all is not well within the leadership ranks of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and its presidential candidate, Atiku Abubakar.
The latest crack came to the fore on Monday during a political rally by the party in Kaduna when the Atiku Campaign group totally ignored the national women leader of the party, Prof Stella Effah-Attoe at a campaign rally in Kaduna state.
According to an eyewitness at the rally who is also from the southern part of Nigeria, a prominent northern woman was called to address the women at the rally without consulting with Prof Stella Effah-Attoe, who was also at the rally.
The source expressed disappointment at the unfair treatment meted to Prof Stella Effah-Attoe at the rally, noting that all southern leaders of the party were at the rally including Governor Patrick Okowa, Liyel Imoke and many others.
“Guys!!! Am tired!!! As a woman and a Southern woman in the PDP, my morale is deteriorating on a daily basis, and I am in tears. Can they do this to a northern woman? Have they ever done this to anyone? What an embarrassment? I am in so much pain.
Meanwhile, National Daily has gathered that Prof Stella Effah-Attoe was among the four members of the National Working Committee of the PDP who returned over N120 million to the party’s account.
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The amount returned ranged from N28 million to N36 million per person. The PDP leaders said the money was recently paid into their accounts and tagged “housing allowance” or “house rent.”
In separate letters addressed to the PDP National Chairman Iyorchia Ayu, the four members said it became necessary to return the money after backlash from the media accusing them of taking bribes.
The NWC members who returned the money are the National Vice Chairman (South-West) Olasoji Adagunodo, the Deputy National Chairman (South), Taofeek Arapaja; the National Vice Chairman (South), Dan Orbih and the National Women Leader, Stella Affah-Attoe.
While Mr Arapaja got N36 million, Messrs Adagunodo and Orbih and Ms Effah-Attoe got N28.8 million each.
In the letters seen by National Daily, the members said the money has brought unnecessary attention to them.
Similarly, Ms Effah-Attoe in her letter, said when she inquired about the N28.8 million paid to her account, she was told by Mr Ayu’s office that the amount was for house rent for two years as an NWC member.
She said since the payment was made, she has been “inundated with many phone calls from party members, friends, family members and the general public, insinuating that the said money has been given as a Bribe to bring her and other NWC members on the side of the chairman – following the crisis between him on one side and the Governor of Rivers State, Nyesom Wike.”
The women leader added that some national newspapers and social media platforms have also carried stories accusing the NWC members of being placated with bribes of N28.8 million.
“This development has made me very uncomfortable. Having found myself in such an embarrassing situation, I am hereby refunding the Bank Account of our Great Party at the PDP National Secretariat,” she wrote.