The crisis in the opposition People’s Democratic Party (PDP), seeming to be assuming a new dimension, as members of the National working committee (NWC), are concerned about the over N10b generated from the sales of nomination and expression of interest forms before the party’s primaries last May.
WHAT WE KNOW
Members of the People’s Democratic Party (PDP), in the general and National Working Committee (NWC), particular are raising questions how the party’s fund is been managed, especially the over N10b realized from sales of forms and how it has within a few months depleted to N1b.
This is even more worrisome as members of the NWC are said to have been offered N28million each to look the other way so as to avoid fresh crisis for the party already bedeviled with crisis, The Nation has reported.
However, according to the newspaper, the NWC members are said to have rejected the bribes rather opting for accountability from the National Chairman of the party.
Reports emerged yesterday that the camp of Rivers State Governor Nyesom Wike is also pushing for accountability as a means of mounting pressure on the Party Chairman to resign.
Recall that Nyesom Wike and his group has become the bet noire of the party chairman, and have insisted on his resignation if the PDP must move forward.
However, to solve the challenge from Governor Wike, the party’s presidential running mate, Delta State Governor Ifeanyi Okowa has approached former Senate President Bukola Saraki to intervene.
Okowa’s major worry is the Wike’s camp refusal to participate in the PDP presidential campaign council.
Some of the NWC members who until recently didn’t know the party presidential candidate, Atiku Abubakar gave the party N1b before the primary election are threatening to stay away from their duties.
NOTABLE QUOTES
The source which spoke under the condition of anonymity according to The Nation, said,
“Ahead of our campaign, all is still not well in the party because some NWC members have raised issues over what had become of the N10 billion nomination fees.”
“They are demanding immediate accountability from the party. I think their anger followed a leakage that the amount collected has reduced from about N10billion to N1billion.”
“Governor Wike’s disclosure of a N1billion gift to the party before the PDP Presidential primaries has compounded the challenge in the party because some NWC members and stakeholders were just hearing for the first time.”
“The anger is mounting and Wike’s camp is already capitalizing on the situation to push for accountability and plot Ayu’s exit.
“I can tell you that the party is in a tinderbox. Some forces wanted to use accountability as an excuse to cause confusion. We know that Ayu has repeatedly assured party leaders of being accountable and transparent.”
“These NWC members have been adamant on accountability. They are demanding the whereabouts of the huge cash.”
“Okowa came to ask Saraki to intervene so that PDP will not go into the campaign as a divided family.
“He believes Saraki and other leaders can salvage the situation by appeasing Wike.”
An aide to the former Governor of Kwara State and former Senate President Bukola Saraki said:
“I knew Okowa was around to see Dr. Saraki, but I wasn’t privy to what they discussed.”
In a tweet on Sunday, Saraki spoke on his meeting with Ifeanyi Okowa
“Yesterday (Saturday), I received the vice presidential candidate of our party, Gov. Ifeanyi Okowa, in my house.
“We had a useful discussion about the state of our party, the PDP and country.”
“As I moved round the country in the past few days, I got the feeling that many people are concerned over my seeming silence on recent developments in our party, the PDP.
“My response is that there are times to speak and be heard and there are times when working silently behind the scene is more productive. This is such a time. PDP and Atiku Abubakar remain the best option for Nigerians in the 2023 polls.”
BACKGROUND
Governor Wike during a media chat last week spoke about the N10b gifted the party by Atiku Abubakar before the primary election, challenging the party Chairman, Sen. Iyorchia Ayu to deny the gift. A challenge which Ayu is yet to take.
Recall that PDP presidential nomination and expression of interest forms were sold for N40 million, governorship N21 million, Senate N3.5 million, House of Representatives N2.5 million and House of Assembly N600, 000. For the presidential form alone, over 15 were sold.
COMMENTARY
How can a party coming to salvage Nigeria from the poor performance and corruption of the APC be plagued with crisis of accountability? If the party cannot account for money generated from sales of forms, how will account for national treasure, considering that some of these persons would form the government in the unlikely event the party wins.
Could it be that the PDP have not learnt anything from it’s past? The party’s sixteen years in power was characterised by corruption and allegations of corruption.
The APC that took over from it has not fared better. However, at this critical moment of the electioneering process, with campaign set to kick off in about 48 hours have crisis of management and accountability, raises more questions than answers.
