Adam Namadi Sambo, the son of Nigeria’s ex-Vice President, Namadi Sambo, has said there is nothing dramatic about requesting delegates to refund lobby funds he distributed to 37 delegates after he failed to secure the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) ticket for Kaduna North Federal Constituency.
Daily Trust had exclusively reported how Adam and another contender, Shehu Usman ABG requested refund of millions of naira paid to delegates after they lost the election to serving member, Samaila Suleiman who recently left the All Progressives Congress for the PDP.
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Daily Trust gathered that Suleiman had parted with between N3.5m and N4m to sway delegates in his favour, cruising to victory with 20 votes against Usman Shehu ABG who allegedly gave N2.5m and polled 14 votes as well as Sambo who gave N2m to each delegates and polled two votes.
However, Adam Sambo in a statement sent to Daily Trust on Wednesday morning confirmed that he had requested a refund but said he was not acting in isolation as others had equally done the same.
Sambo said all delegates had earlier been directed by major stakeholders of the party to return all sums given by unsuccessful aspirants.
The statement reads, “My attention has been drawn to a publication published by Daily Trust, on its online edition titled ‘Drama As Namadi Sambo’s Son Asks Delegates To Return His Money After Losing PDP Ticket.’
“I would like to state that as a matter of fact, there was nothing ‘dramatic’ about the request, and it is unfortunate the media has been purporting it as such. Delegates themselves are aware of the directives given by the major stakeholders of the PDP in the Kaduna North Constituency, that any sums given to delegates by various aspirants for their support should be returned to those unsuccessful in their primary elections.”
“This was done to encourage delegates to vote for the aspirants based on their qualities and not just their perceived spending power, and to hold them accountable for the candidates they put forth.”
The ex-VP’s son said as a mark of respect for that agreement, some delegates in the Kaduna North constituency had started to reach out to unsuccessful State House of Assembly aspirants whose elections were held before theirs “followed by my fellow contender, Shehu Usman ABG and I. Therefore, I am not acting in isolation or making any ludicrous demands.”
He said he had taken the decision in good faith and would continue to support the PDP and do his best to protect its good fortunes.
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