Agency Report
The National Chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Senator Iyorchia Ayu, has been advised to immediately resign from his position due to the crisis rocking the party.
The National Coordinator of the Human Right Writers Association of Nigeria (HURIWA), Emmanuel Onwubiko, made this call while reacting to reports that four PDP National Working Committee (NWC) members returned money paid into their accounts from the party coffers.
HausaToday earlier reported that the four PDP NWC members returned the sum of N93.6 million paid into their account by the embattled PDP national chairman.
A media report claimed that Ayu allegedly paid over N100m into the account of NWC members after the primaries of the party.
The report alleged that Ayu transferred the money from the over N10 billion realised by PDP from the sales of nomination forms.
The NWC members that returned the money to the party include, the National Vice Chairman (South-West), Olasoji Adagunodo, the Deputy National Chairman (South) Taofeek Arapaja; National Vice Chairman (South), Dan Orbih and National Women Leader, Stella Affah-Attoe.
Meanwhile, in a chat with Daily Post on Thursday, Onwubiko asked Ayu to step down and surrender himself to the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) for investigation.
The HURIWA boss stated that the corruption allegations show that the major opposition party had not changed from its old ways, liking the PDP to a Leopard.
He added that both the PDP and the All Progressives Congress (APC) are the same because there is a total absence of accountability and transparency in their leadership.
He said: “The corruption unearthed in the hierarchy of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, as disclosed by some notable leaders and members of the National Executive Committee of the party who refunded humongous bribes paid into their account allegedly by Iyorchia Ayu shows that it is difficult for a Leopard to change its colour.
“Both the PDP and the All Progressives Congress are twin evils because in both of their leaderships there is total absence of accountability and transparency and this is because of how the Chairmen of these parties emerged through corrupt means.
“PDP Chairman should do his party the favour of resigning and handing himself over to the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, for investigation and possible prosecution.
“It is a crying shame that the PDP that ought to work hard to convince voters about its determination to push out the absolutely corrupt and power drunk government of President Muhammadu Buhari is itself weakened by avarice, greed and corruption.
“It’s a big opportunity for voters in Nigeria to be determined to sack both the PDP and the APC.”
