IBADAN – The deputy national chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Taofeek Arapaja, has opened up on why he and his colleagues in the party’s National Working Committee (NWC) returned party funds, declaring that there are more discrepancies in management of party funds.
Arapaja, who denied being a lackey of the camp of the aggrieved party governors and leaders, told journalists at the weekend that the figures declared for the sale of forms do not correspond with what was declared to them by the party.
He added that they decided to return the money because they became convinced that it was not legitimate.
Arapaja, however, denied that the five NWC members who returned the money to the coffers of the PDP are working for the Wike Camp, adding that they are adults who can make their own decisions.
He said, “That is not true. We told you all that happened – and that is what it is. We believe the money is suspicious. Why didn’t you give us before now. We have our names to protect So we believe that, that is not the type of money we should collect.
“More things are coming out; we see N1billion here, another $2 million there. All sorts of things are coming out. Even the sale of forms does not correspond with what was declared to us.
“We don’t believe the money that was sent to us was legit and we returned it. It does not mean that we are working for anybody. We are adults.”
On the next line of action, he said it was up to Ayu whether to resign or not.
“We are part of the NWC but I am not the chairman. Whether or not he resigns is up to him,” he said.
On whether they will insist on an internal probe, he said, “When we get to the bridge, we will cross it. He said only the NEC can take that decision.”
Arapaja’s claim comes as the embattled PDP national chairman, Senator Iyorchia Ayu, returned to the country from his two-week European trip yesterday.
Ayu’s media aide, Simon Imobo-Tswam, in a terse statement, said the national chairman arrived in Nigeria at about 7pm, having jetted out of the country on September 14.
While he was away, the deputy chairman (North), Amb. Iliya Damagun, acted in his place.
Ayu also communicated the handover to the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC).
When asked about the issues raised so far by the NWC, Imobo-Tswam said it was a party matter and that the party would respond.
Ayu has been at the centre of the storm rocking the main opposition political party.
On Thursday, five members of the National Working Committee (NWC) declared that they had returned N151 million paid to them by the national chairman as two years’ housing allowance.
The return of the funds comes barely 24 hours after the party flagged off its presidential campaign in Abuja.
