The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) yesterday alleged mass looting of public funds to create a war chest for the All Progressives Congress (APC) ahead of the 2023 general election.
The PDP therefore called on the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), the Accountant General of the Federation as well as the Auditor General of the Federation to immediately commence investigation and monitor the movement of funds in Ministries, Department and Agencies of government so as “to protect our national treasury from the APC as we approach the 2023 general elections.”
The national publicity secretary of PDP Hon Debo Ologunagba also said the National Assembly, pursuant to its constitutional duty to expose and prevent corruption should in the interest of Nigerians commence a public investigation into these happenings.
PDP, while alleging that the funds would be used to intimidate Nigerians and muscle the 2023 elections, added that APC is diverting into its coffers, public funds meant for development purposes and salaries of workers.
Ologunagba said APC was diverting those funds through the purchase of its presidential nomination form by what it called all manner of persons at an excessive N100 million to warehouse funds.
Ologunagba in a statement yesterday said “Our Party has information of how public funds are being withdrawn from Ministries, Agencies and Parastatals of government and diverted to people who have no verifiable means of livelihood to purchase APC’s Presidential Nomination and Expression of Interest forms for individuals without any electoral value and who cannot even win Local Government elections.
“We have intelligence on how public funds are pulled out of government Agencies in a surreptitious design perfected by an APC leader in connivance with certain individuals in positions of authority close to top persons in the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN).
“The rejected APC has resorted to this underhand method to corruptly rake in billions of naira from public treasury without consideration for the welfare of Nigerians.
“This APC’s nefarious action is informed by its realization that its leaders cannot make huge donations to the APC coffers as they will be violating the limits of contribution to political parties as stipulated by law and regulation.”
PDP said it is regrettable that the APC has extended their corruption to the electoral process not minding the consequential effect on the democratic system.
“In any case, such shenanigan and criminal pillaging of our treasury cannot prevent the imminent crushing defeat of the APC at the polls in 2023, Nigerians having realized the fraud and life discounting experiences that the APC represents.”
