The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has rejected payment of money as bribes but admitted payment as housing allowance to some members of its National Working Committee (NWC).
At least, six of 19 members of the NWC have returned funds paid into their accounts after alleged approval by the National Chairman, Iyorchia Ayu.
The amounts range from N28.8 million to N36 million, depending on the recipient’s position. Letters of the refund are in the public domain.
Read also
- PDP Crisis deepens as Ayu dares Wike and allies over resignation
- As PDP’s walls crack, Atiku jets to London to woo Wike
- Court dismisses suit by aggrieved PDP members in Akwa Ibom
Those who have refunded include Taofeek Arapaja, Deputy National Chairman South; Stella Effah-Attoe, National Woman Leader; Dan Orbih, National Vice Chairman, South-South.
Others are Alli Odefa, National Vice Chairman, South-East, Olasoji Adagunobi-Oluwatukesi, National Vice Chairman, South-West; Setonji Koshoedo, Deputy National Secretary.
Though some people alleged that Ayu might have ‘bribed’ the members to support his position in the face of stiff opposition by Nyesom Wike and group for his resignation in line with the party’s constitution, PDP National Publicity Secretary, Debo Ologunagba, in a statement Thursday night, said the funds were not inducements.
Mr Ologunagba described the bribery allegations as strange and unfounded motives.
The money, he said, was housing allowance duly approved and paid to NWC members and staff of the party.
“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,” he said.
“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,” he said.
He said if any member decides to return money duly approved and paid for any reason, such does not in any way suggest that the money was paid as a bribe or indicate that it was illegitimate or unlawfully paid.
Mr Ologunagba defined a bribe as money or any other valuable consideration given or promised with a view to corrupting the behaviour of a person, especially in that person’s performance as a public official.
“This is not the case in the payment of Housing Allowance duly approved for officials and staff of the party,” he stated.
The party, therefore, urged all members, supporters and the public to disregard the report and misleading insinuation which, he said, are designed to malign the PDP, cause disaffection and distract the party.
Already, the letters which are now being circulated on social media, have triggered outrage with many now asking Mr Ayu to resign.
This episode come about a week after the Rivers State Governor, Nyesom Wike, accused the national chairman of bribing some members of the NWC.
