Six members of the National Working Committee (NWC) of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) have refunded N177.6 million to the coffers of the opposition party.
The money was shared to the party leaders. The money range from N28 million to N36 million each.
The money was part of N15 billion nomination fees paid by aspirants for various offices in 2023.
Those who have returned the money at press time, include:
1. Ambassador Taofeek Arapaja: Deputy National Chairman South.
2. Prof. Stella Effah-Attoe. National Woman Leader.
3. Chief Dan Osi Orbih, National Vice Chairman South-South.
4. Dr. Alli Odefa, National vice Chairman South-West.
5. Hon Olasoji Adagunobi-Oluwatukesi, National vice chairman South-West.
6.Hon Setonji Koshoedo, Deputy National Secretary.

In a bid to wash their hands off the mess, the NWC members feigned ignorance that the money was paid into their accounts.

Some of them stated that they had to check various alerts they got after a national newspaper, The Nation, published the messy sharing.

The irony is that, they were unaware that huge sum of N28 million and N36 million were paid into their accounts.

A source said the members agreed on the sharing of the money. “It was not an express instruction from the National Chairman, Iyorcha Ayu. All the NWC members agreed to the sharing of the money,” a source told The Star.

Reacting to the development on Thursday night, the party’s National Publicity Secretary, Hon. Debo Ologunagba, said the funds were not paid into the account of any NWC member as bribe.

The PDP spokesperson stated that what was paid was for housing allowance.

Ologunagba said the housing allowance 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.”

The Star