A former National Chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Dr Okwesileze Nwodo, has raised alarm that the N11.8bn he handed over for the construction of the party secretariat was missing.
Nwodo, who disclosed this while delivering a paper on “Political Party Funding” during a two-day national retreat of the party in Abuja, urged the country’s anti-corruption agencies to probe the party and prosecute anybody found wanting.
“Accountability and transparency in the management of party funds, today, we seem to have lost it. I handed over N11bn in fixed deposit and N800m in current account when I left as national chairman after seven months. I don’t see what was done with that money. Millions were raised to finish our national headquarters; we don’t seem to have a trace of where all that money went. Our headquarters is yet to be completed.
“Today, we don’t even have a party account. We have to get back to strict monitoring of our party accounts. Our internal audit department needs to be strengthened and supported by the party leadership. Very strict sanctions must be imposed on mismanagement of party funds. I suggest that we invite EFCC to probe erring officers and members. This is the only way to create deterrent,” he said.
Meanwhile, the party at the end of the retreat resolved that its new leadership should enthrone the principle of party supremacy to enhance discipline, unity, unanimity of purpose and, ultimately, landslide victories, come 2023.
The PDP National Chairman-elect, Dr Iyorchia Ayu, announced this yesterday in a communiqué issued at the end of the retreat. The participants also resolved that the PDP should engage different segments of the voting population especially youths and women in what they called the “rescue’’ mission.
