PDP Crisis: Ayu breaks silence on bribery allegations

The National Chairman of the People’s Democratic Party (PDP), Senator Iyorchia Ayu has spoken up after being accused of sending millions to the National Working Committee (NWC) as bribe.

This comes after some PDP NWC members returned over N100 million paid into their accounts by the party.

A media report claimed that Ayu allegedly paid over N100m into the account of NWC members after the primaries of the party as bribe.

The report alleged that Ayu transfered the money from the over N10 billion realised by PDP from the sales of nomination forms.

The NWC members that returned the money to the party include, the National Vice Chairman (South-West), Olasoji Adagunodo, the Deputy National Chairman (South) Taofeek Arapaja; National Vice Chairman (South), Dan Orbih and National Women Leader, Stella Affah-Attoe.

However, it was gathered that some NWC members had started remitting various amounts to the party.

It was reported that Orbih and Effah-Attoe got N28.8 million each, while Arapaja got N36 million.

Orbih in a letter addressed to Ayu and the party disclosed that he got the notification of the payment from his bank without any description.

Orbih denied claims that members of the NWC were offered N28 million to gloss over scandalous financial misappropriation.

He also claimed that that the national chairman did not inform the NWC members about the funds paid into their accounts until it was reported in the media.

Reacting to the development, Ayu said he didn’t order the payment of money into the accounts of PDP NWC members.

Speaking through his media aide with The Punch, Simon Imobo-Tswam, added that he has not seen the letters written by the concerned PDP NWC members.

He said, “We have not seen the letters. So, I can’t say anything for now.”