Amid rising tension, the National Chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) Dr Iyorchia Ayu, has returned to the country after a two-week trip to Europe.
Simon Imobo-Tswam, Special Adviser to the National Chairman on (Media and Communications) made this known in a statement on Friday.
He disclosed that the National Chairman’s plane touched down at the Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport, Abuja, at about 7 pm on Friday.
Ayu jetted out of the country on September 14. While he was away, the Deputy Chairman (North), Amb. Iliya Damagun acted in his place. The national chairman also communicated the handover to the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) accordingly..
The National Chairman’s expected return comes amid fresh scandal in the PDP over 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.
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 include; 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.
While Arapaja got N36 million, the trio of Orbih, Effah-Attoe, and Adagunodo got N28.8 million each.
