Ayu Returns To Nigeria Fom Europe Today Amid N122.4m Scandal

Posted by Nwa Diokpa Latest Headlines, News Across Nigeria Friday, September 30th, 2022

(AFRICAN EXAMINER) – The National Chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Iyorchia Ayu, is expected to be back in Nigeria today Friday, September 30, 2022.

According to The Punch, many sources confirmed this on Thursday, September 29, 2022 saying that the embattled Chairman would return to Nigeria after his two weeks trip to Europe.

“The national chairman of PDP, Iyorchia Ayu, is returning to Nigeria tomorrow (Friday) after an eventful adventure in Europe”, the source told the paper with no further details.

African Examiner recalls that before Ayu left the country, Ayu had handed over the affairs of the PDP to the Deputy Chairman (North), Iliya Damagun.

This was announced in a statement issued by his Special Adviser (Media and Communications), Simon Imobo-Tswam, on Tuesday September 13, 2022.

The statement read: “The PDP National Chairman, Dr. Iyorchia Ayu, will leave Nigeria for Europe tomorrow (Wednesday).

“Ayu will be out of the country for about two weeks. While away, the Deputy Chairman (North), Amb. Iliya Damagun, will act in his place.

“Already, the National chairman has communicated the handover to the Independent National Electoral Commission. He is expected back at month-end.”

However, Ayu’s expected return comes amid fresh scandal in the PDP concerning alleged ‘mysterious’ money sent to some National Working Committee (NWC) members of the party.

No fewer than four members of the NWC returned a total sum of N122.4 million paid into their accounts by the PDP leader.

African Examiner learnt that the money, which was transferred to the NWC members after the PDP primaries, was said to be part of the over N10 billion realised by the party from nomination fees paid by aspirants.

The members who returned the money are: the National Vice Chairman (South-West) Olasoji Adagunodo, the Deputy National Chairman (South) Taofeek Arapaja;

National Vice Chairman (South), Chief Dan Orbih; and National Women Leader, Prof. Stella Affah-Attoe.

Arapaja got N36 million, the trio of Orbih, Effah-Attoe, and Adagunodo got N28.8 million each.