Probe PDP’s ‘Missing’ N11.8bn, Ex-Chair Tells EFCC

Dr Okwesileze Nwodo, a former National Chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), has expressed concern that the N11.8 billion he handed over for the construction of the party secretariat has gone missing.

Nwodo made the revelation while delivering a paper on “Political Party Funding” at the party’s two-day national retreat in Abuja. He urged the country’s anti-corruption agencies to investigate the party and prosecute anyone found guilty.

“We appear to have lost accountability and transparency in the management of party funds today.” When I stepped down as national chairman after seven months, I handed over N11 billion in fixed deposits and N800 million in current accounts. I’m not sure what happened to that money. Millions of dollars were raised to complete our national headquarters, but we don’t seem to know where it all went. Our headquarters is still under construction.

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“We don’t even have a party account today.” We need to re-establish strict oversight of our party accounts. The party leadership needs to strengthen and support our internal audit department. Mismanagement of party funds must be punished with severe penalties. I propose that we invite the EFCC to investigate any erring officers or members. He claims that this is the only way to create a deterrent.

Meanwhile, the party’s new leadership decided at the retreat’s conclusion that the principle of party supremacy should be enshrined to improve discipline, unity, unanimity of purpose, and, ultimately, landslide victories in 2023.

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Dr. Iyorchia Ayu, the PDP National Chairman-elect, announced this in a communiqué issued at the end of the retreat yesterday. The participants also agreed that the PDP should engage various segments of the voting population, particularly youths and women, in a “rescue” mission.