Barely 24 hours after launching its campaign, the crisis that has hit the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) escalated yesterday as some members of the National Working Committee (NWC) returned N122.4 million rent stipends paid into their account.
Some NWC members alleged that they got the strange alerts after they joined issues with the party on the whereabouts of over N10billion realized as nomination fees during the party’s primaries.
The N10billion was said to have been depleted to N1billion in uncertain circumstances, leading to tension in NWC.
The Nation had exclusively reported on Monday that some NWC members were paid N28million each to douse the row over the whereabouts of the N10billion fees.
Those who have so far returned their emergency stipends were the Deputy National Chairman (South), Ambassador Taofeek Arapaja (N36million); National Vice Chairman (Southwest) Olusoji Adagunodo (N28,800,000); National Woman Leader Prof. Stella Effah-Attoe (N28,800,000); and National Chairman, Southsouth, Chief Dan Orbih (N28,800,000).
There were indications that some NWC members from the Southeast and the Southwest may also reject the token from the party.
But all those who rejected the stipends belong to the aggrieved camp of Rivers State Governor Nyesom Wike, which has been calling for the sack of the national chairman, Dr. Iyorchia Ayu.
In a September 29, 2022 letter to Ayu, Deputy National Chairman (South), Arapaja said he decided to return his share of N36million because he did not know what it was meant for.
He said he read an alleged “malicious story” that members of the NWC were “offered humongous amount of money to silent(sic) us over an allegation of financial misappropriation to the tune of N15billion.”
He said: “This led me to browse through my various alerts and I discovered a transfer of N36million from the party.
“I have my reservation about this money transferred into my account and for personal reasons wish to return it accordingly.”
Alluding to the same story, Orbih, in a separate letter to Ayu, said: “To my shock and surprise, it has been confirmed to me by my bank that the sum of N28,800,000 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.”
The National Woman Leader, Prof. Effah-Attoe, in another September 29th, 2022 letter to Ayu, said although she was told that her own N28,800,000 was for a two-year house rent, she had not been comfortable with developments after the payment of the cash.
She wrote as follows: “If you may recall, the sum of N28,800,000 was paid into my account on the 14th of September, 2022. When I inquired from your office, I was told that the said sum was for two years house rent for me as a member of the NWC.
“Since after the lodgment of the money into my bank account, I have been inundated with many phone calls from party members, friends, family members and the general public insinuating that the said money has been given as a bribe to bring me and other NWC members on the side of the national chairman following the crisis between him on one hand and the Governor of Rivers State, His Excellency, Governor Nyesom Wike’s group on the other side.
“In addition, some national newspapers and social media platforms have also carried stories accusing the NWV members of being placated with bribe of N28,800,000.
“This development has made me very uncomfortable, having found myself in such an embarrassing situation. I am hereby refunding to the bank account of our great party at the PDP National Secretariat.
“At an appropriate time, when things normalize, whatever is due to me as my house rent could be paid to me.”
There were indications that some members of the National Executive Committee (NEC) have started mobilizing for an emergency meeting to join issues with the party on the nomination fees.
A NEC member said: “We want to know what has become of the fees collected from aspirants before we talk of these curious payments.
“We are already trying to reach a consensus for an emergency NEC meeting. We hope that our leaders will support this push.”
The Nation