The ruling Peoples Democratic Party has been accused of budgeting N5bn each for the 36 states of the federation in desperate moves to recover lost grounds and win the rescheduled general elections slated for March 28 and April 11, 2014.
But the party’s National Publicity Secretary, Mr. Olisah Metuh, denied the allegation.
A source close to the All Progressives Congress, who did not want his name mentioned, told one of our correspondents that the PDP was desperate to win the elections at all cost thus resorting to mobilising the huge fund to “tidy up every conceivable loophole.”
Saturday PUNCH learnt that the first tranche of the money, which amounts to N2bn, is being sent to state chapters of the PDP with the N3bn balance expected to follow as time goes on. When put together, this will amount to N180bn for the 36 states.
When asked to explain what he meant by “tidy up every conceivable loophole,” the source said the PDP planned to mobilise the money to sway the APC supporters and some senior security agents.
The source, who pleaded again for the second time not to reveal his identity during the telephone conversation with one of our correspondents, said the PDP felt jittery as a result of the assault on President Goodluck Jonathan by youths in some states in the North before the general elections were postponed.
The source said the party was worried that the assault might affect Jonathan’s chances in the North and as a result planned to use available strategies to regain its depleted popularity.
But Metuh said this was mere rumour being peddled by the opposition party. He said PDP was sure of victory in the next elections because of its popularity among Nigerians.
Metuh spoke with one of our correspondents on Thursday in Abuja.
He said, “The APC is known for raising false alarm and by now Nigerians must be tired of its accusations, which usually lack substance.
“Where does APC think we will get such amount of money? Nigerians should ignore the allegation because it has no meaning and does not make sense. Anyone making such allegation must come out and substantiate it.”
BY PUNCH CORRESPONDENTS
