Politics

PDP Crisis: Shock, Disbelief As Fraud Allegations Unsettle Ayu, Atiku

Published

3 years ago

September 30, 2022

Amidst weighty allegations of corruption hovering around his office, the National Chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, Chief Iyorchia Ayu is expected back to Nigeria today, Friday.

However, unlike when he departed the country to Europe with fanfare, that may not be said of his return trip as he is coming back to face a court of public opinion, with his colleagues in the National Working Committee, NWC, of the PDP making shocking revelations.

Barely one week ago, Governor of Rivers State, Nyesom Wike in what appears to be blowing the lead, had accused Ayu of engaging in corrupt practices.

However, not many took Wike’s allegations seriously, considering his long drawn war with the chairman ever since the party conducted its presidential primary election, which Wike lost to Alhaji Atiku Abubakar.

Wike, answering questions from journalists, alleged that Ayu received N1 billion from one of the presidential hopefuls in the party.

He went further to say that Ayu is corrupt, and that the chairman cannot deny that he received the money but refused to remit it to the party’s account.

“Ayu is very corrupt. I’m totally informed. Ayu has the opportunity to challenge me, I will name the person.

“Some of the governors can tell you. Will he 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 met one of the presidential candidates and told him that he’s not sure these governors may want to sponsor the party.

“That money did not enter into the account of PDP, but we are not attacking Ayu on that basis.”

That was a strong cannon shot from Wike but no reply came from Ayu who has been outside the country.

However, while Nigerians were still expecting Ayu to react to the grave allegations, more can of worms were opened on Thursday, with at least four members of the Ayu-led NWC rejecting suspicious money paid into their accounts.

The money totalling over N122 million has already been returned to the PDP account, with each of the recipients dropping a note for Ayu.

Those who returned the money included the National Vice Chairman (South-West) Olasoji Adagunodo, the Deputy National Chairman (South) Taofeek Arapaja; National Vice Chairman (South), Chief Dan Orbih and National Women Leader, Prof. Stella Affah-Attoe.

Details in their letters show that Arapaja got N36 million, Adagunodo, Orbih and Effah-Attoe got N28.8 million each.

Orbih, in the letter he addressed to Ayu said, “My attention has been drawn to a damaging trending story reported in THE NATION Newspaper on September 26, 2022 titled ‘Disquiet in PDP NW over N10 billion nomination fees.’ Amongst several other allegations, he alleged that members of the NWC were offered N28 million to gloss over scandalous financial misappropriation.

“To my shock and surprise, it has been confirmed to me by my bank that the sum of N28, 800,000. (Twenty-eight million eight hundred thousand Naira) has been credited to my account by the party. I hereby notify you of my decision to pay back the money to the party’s account.

“Kindly confirm receipt of Zenith Bank Manager’s cheques of: N10,000,000, N10,000,000, N8,800,000 TOTAL = N28,800,000 to the Party’s account. A/C: 1000095003, Globus Bank PLC.”

DAILY POST reports that other members of the NWC wrote similar letters to Ayu, indicating their rejection of the questionable fund.

One of them, Effah-Attoe said upon enquiry, she was told the money was meant for her two-year rent.

She, however, said phone calls from party members, friends, family members and the general public, were suggestive that the money was a bribe “to bring me and other NWC members on the side of The National Chairman, following the crisis between him on one side and the Governor of Rivers State, H.E Governor Nyesom Wike/ Wike’s Group on the other side.”

The development is said to have unsettled the PDP top hierarchy, including the camp of the presidential candidate, Atiku Abubakar, who see the unfolding events as not good for the party, especially with the commencement of campaigns.

“Remember that one of the reasons the party was voted out in 2015 was owing to monumental corruption in governance; now this is happening.

“The feeling everywhere is that Wike has been proved right; there is disquiet everywhere.

“This is happening at a very bad time because it will be difficult for the party to go and talk to the electorates about anti-corruption when its house is tainted with several unresolved fraud allegations.

“Frankly, most of the party leaders are in shock over this development and the most honourable thing for the national chairman to do now is to resign. This is no longer about Wike. If Ayu has the interest of the party at heart, he should just give way.

“There is no way he can lead the party into a general election with this kind of baggage; it will be difficult to clean this mess before the election,” the top party source said.

As of the time of filing this report, there is still graveyard silence from the PDP leadership over these allegations.

Meanwhile, a civil rights activist, Comrade Emmanuel Onwubiko, National Coordinator of the Human Right Writers Association of Nigeria, HURIWA, has said the happenings in the PDP was an indication that the party had not changed from its old ways.

Onwubiko told DAILY POST that the right thing was for Ayu to resign and surrender himself to the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC.

According to him, “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.”

Politics

Twist In Edo PDP Crisis As Faction Elects State Executives

Published

48 minutes ago

October 5, 2025

Editor

The crisis rocking Edo State chapter Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) reignited on Sunday as a faction loyal to the party National Vice Chairman, South -South elected Nosa Ogieva as the state chairman of the party.

Ogieva, who was sworn in alongside other 13 members of the executive promised to reunite the party, and that PDP would soon begin to win elections again in the state.

Recall that a faction loyal to the Umar Damagum-led national secretariat of the PDP held its congress on September 27, 2925 where Dr. Tony Aziegbemi emerged as the state chairman of the PDP.

Earlier in his opening remarks, Orbih said former governor of the state, Godwin Obaseki was responsible for the crisis in the party.

Obaseki, who said Obaseki quarreled with everybody he met in the party, added that the poor performance of the party in the recently conducted by-elections showed how unpopular the party had become.

Orbih carpeted an earlier statement issued by the other faction of the party where they called on members to disregard the announcement for the State Congress.

He said: “Just yesterday (Saturday), I saw a statement issued by some funny characters saying they are advising party members not to attend this event. Are you not here?

“Those who don’t have any moral authority to speak on behalf of the party should keep their mouth shut.

Politics

2027: Senator Imasuen Visits His Ward, Seeks Support For Tinubu

Published

3 hours ago

October 5, 2025

Editor

The All Progressives Congress (APC) family in Ward 5, Umagbai, Uhunmwonde Local Government Area of Edo State, on Saturday, rolled out the drums as Senator Neda Imasuen, representing Edo South, visited for an interactive session with party faithful at the grassroots level to mobilise support for President Tinubu ahead of 2027 general elections.

The interactive session, which drew chieftains, ward chairmen and party faithful from the 22 units in the ward, was marked by jubilation and reaffirmed the party’s strength in the district.

Speaking at the gathering, Senator Imasuen expressed gratitude for the warm reception, stressing the need to build bridges with his local base.

He noted that while he joined the APC at the State level on June 12, it was crucial to identify with his ward because “politics is local.”

“It was very imperative that I come to my ward, not only to officially inform them of my joining the party since June 12, but also to meet the ward executives,” the lawmaker said.

“This move will strengthen the party, promote unity and ensure victory at the polls.”

Imasuen lauded President Bola Ahmed Tinubu for what he described as “bold and courageous” economic reforms, adding that such steps were necessary to turn the nation’s fortunes around.

He also echoed the Edo State governor, Senator Monday Okpebholo’s pledge to deliver 2.5 million votes to Tinubu in 2027, declaring the target a “done deal.”

“By the grace of God, Asiwaju 2027 is settled. Part of that settlement is to begin to work towards that goal from the grassroots,” he added.

APC leaders in the local government hailed the senator for the move to galvanize support for the president ahead of 2027, pledging their support for the movement.

The All Progressive Congress, LGA Chairman, Osayimwenre Osawe, described him as “an asset” whose presence as a federal lawmaker would bring democratic dividends to Uhunmwonde.

“He is not a liability. He came to add value. Being a senator of the Federal Republic is a plus to our party. Beyond development, his return for a second term would make him a ranking senator, and that will position him for more influence on the Senate floor,” Osawe declared.

Also speaking, Acting Council Chairman, Augustine Imafidon Uhuonde, pledged unwavering support for the senator, praising his performance in facilitating projects in the senatorial district.

“Even watching him from the other side, he made us proud. Today, he has come down to the ward level to join hands with us. That shows he is ‘grass-rooted’ and truly the man of the people,” Uhuonde said.

Prominent party figures at the event included Festus Aimierovbiye, Chairman APC Ward 5; former Edo State Commissioner for Transport, Hon. Orobosa Omo-Ojo; Hon. Derick Uhunmwagho, Liaison Officer and Chief of Staff to the senator; Iziegbe Gabriel, LGA Coordinator; and Ese Edegbe, Ward 5 Assistant Coordinator.

Politics

Court Declines Kachikwu’s Motion Against INEC, ADC Leaders

Published

2 days ago

October 3, 2025

Editor

The Federal High Court in Abuja on Friday declined to hear an application filed by the African Democratic Congress’ 2023 presidential candidate, Dumebi Kachikwu, against the Independent National Electoral Commission and the Senator David Mark-led leadership of the party.

Justice James Omotosho, in a ruling, refused to entertain the motion.

Kachikwu, through his counsel, Dayo Akinlaja (SAN), had sought an order compelling INEC to withdraw the publication of Mark and Rauf Aregbesola’s names as national chairman and secretary of the ADC, pending the determination of the substantive suit.

INEC had recently recognised Mark, a former Senate President, and Aregbesola, a former Governor of Osun State, as the party’s national chairman and national secretary.

On July 7, Kachikwu and four others – Adikwu Elias, Etimbuk Umoh, Muhammed Khala, and Alaku Godwin William – filed an originating summons challenging the recognition of the duo.

The suit lists INEC, ADC, Chief Ralph Nwosu, Mark, and Aregbesola as the first to fifth defendants.

When the matter was called on Friday, Akinlaja told the court that a motion dated September 19 had been filed. He argued that despite the pendency of the suit, INEC went ahead to recognise Mark and Aregbesola as party leaders.

The plaintiffs asked the court to set aside the recognition and publication of their names, describing it as a breach of the doctrine of lis pendens. They also sought an injunction restraining Nwosu, Mark, and Aregbesola from further relating with INEC as ADC’s national officers.

However, counsel for the ADC, Shaibu Aruwa (SAN), along with other defence lawyers, opposed the application.

After hearing arguments, Justice Omotosho declined to entertain the motion, marked FHC/ABJ/CS/1331/2025.

He said, “This court is not inclined to nullify anything at this stage, whether done before or now. This is a political case. I am not taking any interlocutory matter.”

The judge held that all processes filed by the parties, including preliminary objections, would be taken together with the substantive case.

Despite repeated pleas by Akinlaja for the motion to be heard, the court stood its ground.

Justice Omotosho also granted an application for joinder filed by Nkemakolam Ukandu, the ADC deputy national secretary, and ordered that his name be added as a defendant.

He directed the plaintiffs to file the amended processes within 48 working hours and gave the defence seven days to respond. The case was adjourned till October 23 for hearing.