PDP Governors’ Forum (PDP-GF) on Saturday expressed concern over the move by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) to investigate the party’s finance.
In April, Kassim Afegbua, a member of the PDP, petitioned the EFCC and the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC) over the alleged misappropriation of the party’s funds.
Afegbua, in the petition, asked that the PDP leadership account for N10 billion allegedly realised from the sale of forms in the 2019 general election.
This made the anti-graft agency to invite PDP officials for questioning.
The PDP, however, denied the allegation and in a news conference in Abuja, Kola Ologbondiyan, the party’s public secretary, said the PDP generated N4.6 billion, and raised a budget for its expenditure in line with all known financial regulations.
The forum in a statement by its Director-General, Mr CID Maduabum, in Abuja, said that the PDP was up to date in submission of it yearly financial account to the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) as required by the Constitution.
Maduabum said that the PDP governors were not aware that INEC made any complaints to EFCC on PDP’s returns.
He said the recent invitation of PDP officials by the EFCC raised some concerns on the impartiality of the anti-graft agency.
Maduabum said PDP as a political party was accountable to its members and the general public for its actions.
”The PDP governors were concerned that it was a misplaced priority and move to silence political opposition,” the DG said.
He advised the EFCC’s new leadership to learn from the mistakes of its predecessors.
“Even the petition in question did not make a single allegation of misuse of government funds, nor cheating of any individual or public authority by the PDP.
“It is, therefore, surprising that EFCC should use its scarce human and other resources to begin an investigation into PDP finances.
“If EFCC is even-handed and non-partisan, it should also conduct an investigation into other political parties including the ruling party,” Maduabum said.
