By Dare Akogun
The Kwara State chapter of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has petitioned the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) and the Nigerian Financial Intelligence Unit (NFIU) over an alleged plans by the APC in the state to use the state Treasury to prosecute the forthcoming general elections.
The state APC chairman, over the weekend at Obbo-Aiyegunle in Ekiti local government area of the state was reported to have told the APC supporters that the party would match funds for funds and “if it is possible the party would use state funds to defeat the opposition, PDP during the forthcoming general elections in the state”.
The comment contained in a widely circulated video, made in Yoruba language and translated into English thus: “We are in government from top to bottom for Kwara State. We have enough access to government funds such that if PDP leaders want to spend like us, they will just go bankrupt”.
However speaking with journalists on Thursday in Ilorin the state chairman of the PDP, Hon. Muhammed Babatunde said that the written petition was also used to alert the two anti-graft agencies to monitor and stop any illegal cash withdrawals and transfers from all Kwara state government bank accounts.
According to him “We in the PDP are vindicated by the unguarded statement by the Chairman of the Kwara APC. Indeed Kwarans now know the nefarious plans of the APC for the funds they have siphoned and continue to siphon from our common patrimony daily.
“lt is clear that they intend to use the funds they have pilfered to induce voters, cause confusion and undermine the electoral process in order to secure the re-election of the APC-led administration in the coming elections.
“We all see how the governor’s glossy and expensive re-election campaign billboards and posters are changed almost daily, obviously using state funds.
The chairman, however, said that “It is clear that the PDP is the party that deserves the vote of Kwarans in the February 25 national elections and March 11 state elections.
“We urge the good people of Kwara to vote for PDP candidates across board so that we can rescue Nigeria and Kwarans in the forthcoming general elections,” he said.
