PDP crisis: Group demands resignation of 5 NWC members

A group within the main opposition Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) under the umbrella of “Coalition for Good Governance” has demanded the immediate resignation, or removal of five members of the National Working Committee (NWC) of the party over alleged anti-party activities.

The  affected NWC members are Deputy National Chairman (South), Amb. Taofeek Arapaja, the National Vice Chairman (South South), Chief Dan Orbih, the National Vice Chairman (South West), Olasoji Adagunodo National Vice Chairman (South East) Chief Ali Odefa and the National Woman Leader, Prof. Stella Affah-Attoe respectfully, who returned some monies said to be bribes.

was contained in a statement signed by the group’s National Coordinator; Mallam Muhammad Suleiman; General Secretary, Owolabi Adebola; and National Publicity Secretary; Ephraim Obinna, made available to newsmen at the weekend in Abuja.

While condemning the alleged bribery and inducement of the members of the NWC  levelled against the National Chairman of the Party, Senator Iyorchia Ayu, the group called for thorough investigation of the affected party members, accusing the national officials “of working for a desperate selfish interest, to orchestrate damaging narratives aimed at bringing  our great Party, the PDP to public disrepute and truncate its fortune in the 2023 general election”.

The statement read in part, “In the bid to foist a negative storyline on the Party, these apparently compromised National Officers, yielded to the enemies of the Party by falsely presenting their Housing Allowances, their legitimate entitlement duly approved and paid to national officials and staff of the Party to the public as bribe.

“We have been reliably informed that this is part of the well-funded furtive scheme targeted not at the National Chairman, Sen. Dr. Iyorchia Ayu but to destabilize the PDP, derail its Presidential Campaign and frustrate the deserving victory of our Presidential Candidate, His Excellency Atiku Abubakar in the 2023 general elections.

“We have also received information of how huge sums of money exchanged hands to prosecute to bring the PDP to public opprobrium a day after the inauguration of the Party’s Presidential Campaign Council.

“The action of these National Officers amounts to serious betrayal of trust, gross misconduct, abuse of office and unpardonable anti-Party activity in violation of Section 58 (1) of the Constitution of the PDP, 2017 (as amended).

“This is especially as these National Officers are part of the National Working Committee which approved the funds in line with the already established Terms and Conditions of Service of staff and Principal officers of the Party.

“In this regard, we call for the immediate investigation into the financial activities of these officials following allegations that they were heavily bribed to execute such a despicable scheme against the Party and our Presidential Candidate.”