N1bn bribe: PDP sets records straight

The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has reacted to media reports that members of the party’s National Working Committee (NWC) shared the N1bn bribe allegedly given by one of the presidential aspirants during the build up to the party’s presidential primaries, among themselves.

Last Friday, Wike, in a media chat, accused the National chairman of the party, Iyorchia Ayu of receiving N1 billion from one of the presidential hopefuls in the party, while alleging that the national chairman is “very corrupt”.

On Thursday, some NWC members announced the refund of different amounts sent to their accounts by the party’s leadership, fueling speculations that the refunded money is from the alleged bribe.

The affected members include Taofeek Arapaja, deputy national chairman, south; Dan Osi Orbih, national vice chairman, south-south; Stella Effah-Atoe, national women leader; and Olasoji Adagunodo, national vice chairman, south-west.

Reacting to the development, Debo Ologunagba, the party’s national publicity secretary, said the NWC members were paid for housing allowance.

READ ALSO: PDP raises alarm over fresh plot to destabilize party as 2023 campaign begins

In a statement on Friday, Ologunagba said the money went through due process before being paid into the accounts of the members of the NWC.

“For the avoidance of doubt, the PDP states in an unequivocal term that no funds were paid into the account of any member of the NWC as a bribe for any purpose whatsoever for that matter.

“To set the record straight, the housing allowance being referred to went through the due process of the party in line with the conditions of service and entitlement of the staff and principal officers of the party.

“If any individual, for any reason decides to return money duly approved and paid, such does not in any way suggest that the money was paid as bribe or indicate that it was illegitimate or unlawfully paid.

“The PDP therefore urges all members, teeming supporters and the general public to disregard the report and misleading insinuation which are clearly designed to malign the PDP, cause disaffection and distract our party from our mission to rescue, rebuild and redirect our nation from the misrule of the All Progressives Congress (APC).”

In recent weeks, there has been crisis in the PDP over the insistence of allies of Nyesom Wike, governor of Rivers, on the resignation of Iyorchia Ayu, the party’s national chairman.

There have also been allegations of financial misappropriation against the Ayu-led NWC of the party, with claims that funds from sale of nomination forms have not been properly accounted for.