Politics
PDP Bribery Allegation: Fani-Kayode Demands Arrest, Prosecution Of Ayu, Others
PDP Bribery Allegation: Fani-Kayode Demands Arrest, Prosecution Of Ayu, Others
A chieftain of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Femi Fani-Kayode, has asked the security agencies to arrest the National Chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Iyorchia Ayu, and other members of the National Working Committee over allegations of corruption rocking the party.
The former aviation minister took to his social media accounts— Facebook and Twitter, on Monday, to call for the arrest and prosecution of the opposition politicians.
In a tweet on his verified handle, Mr Fani-Kayode, who is a member of the campaign council of Bola Tinubu, wondered why the security agencies have not arrested Mr Ayu and the members of the NWC days after the allegation was made.
The main opposition party is currently enmeshed in allegations of corruption in the past few weeks following an allegation of bribery by Governor Nyesom Wike of Rivers State against Mr Ayu.
Mr Wike, who is leading the “Ayu must go” campaign, had during an interview alleged that the former senate president collected N1 billion from an unnamed person in Lagos.
“Some of the governors can tell you. Will he (Ayu) deny the fact that he didn’t collect N1 billion from Lagos? Let him deny it, I will tell him who gave him the money, not from the Lagos State Government. The money was given to him in Lagos,” he said.
The National Chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Iyorchia Ayu. A few days after the allegation by Mr Wike, several NWC members returned about N120 million sent to them by the party.
The NWC members who returned the money are the National Vice Chairman (South-west) Olasoji Adagunodo; the Deputy National Chairman (South), Taofeek Arapaja; the National Vice Chairman (South), Dan Orbih, and the National Women Leader, Stella Affah-Attoe.
While Mr Arapaja got N36 million, Messrs Adagunodo and Orbih and Ms Effah-Attoe got N28.8 million each.
Most of the party officials involved are believed to be sympathetic to Mr Wike.
The PDP later confirmed that the money was sent to the officials but it was not a bribe.
The party’s National Publicity Secretary, Debo Ologunagba, in a statement claimed that the amount was housing allowance paid to the officials.
“The Housing Allowance being referred to went through the due process of the party,” Mr Ologunagba stated in the statement.
Opposition leaders above law?
Mr Fani-Kayode, who is facing prosecution for alleged money laundering, accused the leadership of the opposition party of sharing money like “Father Christmas”.
He urged other members of the NWC to return whatever money is with them before the commencement of an investigation.
“Why have the security agencies not rounded up the PDP National Chairman and all the other members of their NWC and questioned them about the misappropriation and diversion of the one billion naira that Wike told us about?
“Are the leaders of the opposition above the law?
“Never have we seen party officials sharing money amongst one another like Father Christmas as the leadership of the PDP has just done.
“I advise those on their NWC that have not done so already to return the money they collected because a criminal investigation has already begun,” he tweeted.
Furthermore, Mr Fani-Kayode also seized the opportunity to eulogise the National Chairman of the APC, Abdullahi Adamu.
“There is no political party that has a National Chairman and National Working Committee (NWC) that is as transparent, accountable and responsible as the NWC of the APC under the distinguished leadership of Senator Adamu Abdullahi.
“Unlike the NWC of PDP they did NÒT steal one billion naira to share amongst themselves in the name of housing allowance,” he wrote on his Facebook page.
Mr Fani Kayode made the claim despite Mr Adamu’s removal as the chairman of the Northern Senators Forum by his colleagues in 2018 over alleged financial mismanagement and other related matters.
Mr Adamu later claimed that his removal was political.
Also, in 2010, Mr Adamu, who was governor of Nasarawa State from 1999 to 2007, was arraigned by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) with 149 counts of corruption at a Federal High Court in Lafia, the Nasarawa State capital.
Credit: Premium Times
*Go out and vote, it’s your right – Ogun APC charges electorate*
As the party campaigns for the 2024 Local Government election in Ogun State draws to a close midnight of today (Thursday), the All Progressives Congress, APC, has charged registered voters in Ogun State to go out and exercise their fundamentals rights on Saturday “without any fear whatsoever”.
Addressing the grand finale of APC in Odogbolu Local Government, the Publicity Secretary of the party in Ogun State, Tunde Oladunjoye said, “APC has done very well under the administration of Prince Dapo Abiodun, and we are poised to win the chairmanship and councilorship elections overwhelmingly come Saturday”.
Oladunjoye, who is also Senior Media Consultant to Governor Dapo Abiodun on Media, thanked the Odogbolu people for showing massive support to the APC in the local government.
“With what I have seen here, victory is sure. I want to thank you on behalf of the Governor of Ogun State, Prince Dapo Abiodun, CON and the Chairman of APC in Ogun State, Chief Yemi Sanusi. “Come out and vote peacefully on Saturday. It is your constitutional duty and obligation.”
Oladunjoye added that people should learn from the chairmanship candidate of the party in Odogbolu local government, Dr. Babatunde Oyetola Diya, who vied for the office about three and half years ago and did not get it, but remained faithful in the party and continued to reach out to people with his humanitarian efforts.”
Anthony Ojo congratulates Gov Okpebholo, confirms Edo Central Senate aspiration
Influential Edo State politician, Anthony Ojo has congratulated Senator Monday Okpebholo after being sworn-in as the new Governor of the State.
In his congratulatory message, Ojo expressed confidence in the abilities of Gov Okpebholo to bring the dividends of democracy close to the people of Edo State.
“The people of Edo State have total trust in your five-point agenda, capacity as a leader, and this is evident with their immense show of love. We have no single doubt that under you, this state will progress to the promised land,” the statement reads.
Meanwhile, Anthony Ojo has confirmed his aspiration to contest the Edo Central senatorial seat under the flagship of the All Progressives Congress (APC), a position previously held by Senator Okpebholo before he was elected governor.
He cited that sharing the same leadership ideologies with Governor Okpebholo, and the keen desire for transformative human and capacity developments in Edo State are the reasons behind his ambition.
He promised to work closely with the Governor to provide succour to Edo citizens.
Appeal Court Further Affirms Udeze-led NEC Of Action Alliance As Valid, Authentic
ABUJA – The Appeal Court sitting in Abuja has further affirmed Chief Barr. Kenneth Udeze-led National Executive Committee (NEC) of Action Alliance (AA) elected on 14th March 2021 National Convention of the party as valid and authentic.
Action Alliance, in a statement by its National Secretary, Vernimbe A James said, “the court of appeal Abuja Division today in Appeal Number; CA/ABJ/CV/1163/2024 in a lead Judgement delivered by Hon.Justics Abba Mohammed which was concord by the other two Justices dismissed the appeal filed by Adekunle Omoaje faction through one Miller C.Orgwu ( on behalf of himself and all NEC Members Elected at Action Alliance Elective National Convention of 7th of October,2023, held at OOPL Abeokuta, Ogun State ) against 1, INEC, 2, Kenneth Udeze,3, James Vernimbe, 4, Akinuli Fred Omolere.
“The Court also awarded N400,000 cost against the appellants in favor of the Respondents.
The appeal was about the validity of the powers of Action Alliance NEC under Chief Kenneth Udeze led executive to conduct the party Governorship primary in Ondo State for the upcoming Saturday 16th November 2024, Governorship Election.
“The Federal High Court Abuja Division had earlier In Suit Number; FHC/ABJ/ CS/626/2024 Between Miller Orgwu and others (Omoaje faction) claiming to be authentic NEC of the party against 1, INEC, 2, KENNETH UDEZE,3, JAMES VERNIMBE, 4, AKINULI FRED OMOLERE presided by HON. JUSTICE JOYCE O.ABDULMALIK on 24th, September 2024 dismissed their Claim and validated the Ondo State Governorship Primary Election Conducted by Chief Barr Kenneth Udeze led Action Alliance NEC as valid and authentic, thereby Confirming the Ondo State Governorship Candidate of the party AKINULI FRED OMOLERE as the valid Candidate of the party for the 16th, November 2024 Governorship Election in Ondo State.”
The statement further said: “On 28 March 2022, the FCT High Court Abuja had affirmed and validated the Action Alliance National Convention held on 14th, March 2021 wherein Chief Barr Kenneth Udeze led NEC of the party were elected.
“Dissatisfied with the said Judgement, one Adekunle Rufai Omoaje and others were granted leave of the court of appeal to appeal same Judgement.
“On the 26th, January 2024, the Court of Appeal Abuja Division in Appeal Number; CA/ ABJ/ CV/ 955/22 Between Adekunle Rufai Omoaje and others and Chief Uzewuru Nwachukwu and others further Affirmed the FCT High Court Judgement that earlier validated the Action Alliance National Convention of 14th March,2021 wherein Chief Barr Kenneth Udeze led Action Alliance (AA) NEC of the party was elected.
“Dissatisfied with the appeal court Judgement one Adekunle Rufai Omoaje and others have appealed the Judgement to the Supreme Court of Nigeria in appeal Number: SC/ CV/162/2024 Between Adekunle Rufai Omoaje and others and Chief Uzewuru Nwachukwu and others, the matter is still pending at the Supreme Court of Nigeria which he has abandoned but desperately looking for how to come through the back door to claim the leadership of Action Alliance.”
The statement also explained that “INEC has since Complied with the Judgements validating the 14th, March 2021 National Convention of the party wherein Chief Barr Kenneth Udeze led Action Alliance NEC of the party was elected and uploaded on its website the Name of Chief Barr Kenneth Udeze- National Chairman, Vernimbe A James -National Secretary and other Elected NEC of the party as authentic.
“There is no court ruling or Judgement that Affirmed or validated any other National Convention of Action Alliance (AA) held on any other date apart from the 14th, March 2021 National Convention of the party which Courts have already and variously validated.”
Ezenwa Ibegbunam, who is the Counsel to Chief Fred Omolere, the governorship candidate of the party affirmed by the Court, noted that the judgment has further restated the correct position of the law and a vindication of the previous decision of the Court of Appeal which had earlier affirmed Chief Udeze led executive as the authentic leadership of the Action Alliance.
On his part, Chief Kenneth Udeze has praised the Court of Appeal as a citadel of justice and urged the party members across the country to remain focused.
He further noted that the Judgment has cleared the way for the victory of the party in the Ondo State gubernatorial election.
Source: Daily Independent
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