From Okwe Obi, Abuja
The crisis rocking the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) is far from over as a pressure group in the party, Coalition for Good Governance, has demanded the probe of five members of the National Working Committee (NWC) over alleged anti-party activities.
The affected NWC members are Deputy National Chairman,South, Taofeek Arapaja; National Vice Chairman,South South, Chief Dan Orbih; National Vice Chairman, South Wes, Olasoji Adagunodo; National Vice Chairman, South East, Chief Ali Odefa and National Woman Leader, Prof. Stella Affah-Attoe respectfully.
The coalition in a statement by its National Coordinator, Muhammad Suleiman; General Secretary, Owolabi Adebola; and National Publicity Secretary; Ephraim Obinna, yesterday, accused the officials of working for their selfish interest, by orchestrate damaging narratives aimed at bringing the party to public disrepute and truncate its fortune in the 2023 general election.
It condemned the alleged bribery and inducement story by the listed NWC members levelled against the party’s National Chairman, Senator Iyorchia Ayu even as it demanded thorough investigation of the affected members.
“In the bid to foist a negative storyline on the party, these national officers, yielded to the enemies of the party by falsely presenting their housing allowances, their legitimate entitlement duly approved and paid to national officials and staff of the party, to the public as bribe.
“We have been reliably informed that this is part of the well-funded furtive scheme targeted not at the National Chairman, Dr. Iyorchia Ayu, but to destabilise the PDP, derail its presidential campaign and frustrate the deserving victory of our presidential candidate, His Excellency Atiku Abubakar in the 2023 general elections.
“We have also received information of how huge sums of money exchanged hands to prosecute, and to bring the PDP to public opprobrium a day after the inauguration of the party’s presidential campaign council.
“The action of these national officers amounts to serious betrayal of trust, gross misconduct, abuse of office and unpardonable anti-party activity in violation of Section 58 (1) of the Constitution of the PDP, 2017 (as amended).
“This is especially as these national officers are part of the National Working Committee which approved the funds in line with the already established terms and conditions of service of staff and principal officers of the party.
“In this regard, we call for the immediate investigation into the financial activities of these officials following allegations that they were heavily bribed to execute such a despicable scheme against the party and our presidential candidate.
“We call for a scrutiny of their bank records following findings that they received their housing allowances since September 14, 2022 and utilised it for the designated purpose.
An investigation should ascertain who raise the funds they returned after spending their housing allowances.
“This is especially given allegations that these party officials disclaimed and returned the housing allowance after huge sums exceeding the housing allowances were reportedly paid into their accounts by agents of a particular state governor to work against the party.
“Consequently, we call for immediate resignation, suspension and investigation of these national officers of our Party for anti-party activity and attempt to scuttle our presidential campaign.”
