The All Progressives Congress National Vice Chairman, North-West, Salihu Lukman, has declared that the APC National Chairman, Sen, Abdullahi Adamu, failed to account for the billions of naira that accrued to the party from sales of forms to aspiring contestants at the 2023 general election.

Lukman stated that all decisions on the finances of the APC were taken by Adamu and the party’s National Secretary, Sen. Iyiola Omisore.

He said the members of the APC National Working Committee have been reduced to “onlookers or at best rubber stamps”, adding that the party officials are hired and sacked by Adamu and Omisiore without reporting to any organ of the party, including the NWC.

The APC vice chairman said this via a statement issued on April 3 and titled ‘APC and Questions of Progressive Credentials’.

Lukman stated: “Article 13.3A(xv) of the party’s constitution directed the NWC to give quarterly financial reports to NEC. Also, Article 13.4(ii) direct the NWC to present reports and Article 13.4(iv) compel the NWC to present financial report on income and expenditure of the Party.

“All these have been ignored. Yet, it is public knowledge that the party has earned billions of Naira in revenue from sales of forms to aspiring contestants for the 2023 general elections.

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“We are yet to, as NWC, declare to any organ of the party how much we inherited from His Excellency Mai Mala-led Caretaker Committee and how much was received as donations and contributions for the 2023 elections. Large-scale expenditure, which include the renovation of the National Secretariat complex are being undertaken without any organ of the party exercising the powers of due diligence.

“As a member of the NWC, I can say without fear of contradiction, all decisions bordering on managing the finances of the party are being taken by the National Chairman, Sen. Abdullahi Adamu, and the National Secretary, Sen. Iyiola Omisore.

“Most members of NWC are reduced to onlookers or at best rubber stamps. All appeals for accountability have fallen on deaf ears. Decision of the NWC to convene NEC meeting in August last year was simply sabotaged.

“Once the party’s constitution is no longer the guide for managing the affairs of the party, discretionary decisions of leaders take over. Consequently, even what get paid to party officials and organs becomes acts of benevolence by the National Chairman or anyone he delegates.

“As a result, something as fundamental as the decision on what proportion of the party’s income is paid to States, Local Governments, and Wards is exercised solely by the National Chairman and National Secretary. Party staff are hired and fired by the National Chairman and National Secretary without report to any organ, including the NWC.

“Given all these, there are embarrassing reports of party members who served in Screening, Primary and Appeals Committees for the 2023 elections yet to be paid their allowances.

“There was also the case of aspiring contestants for party offices during the March 28, 2022, National Convention who voluntarily stepped down in the spirit of facilitating consensus and therefore entitled for refunds of the cost of their nomination forms who are yet to be paid.

The Star