Ayu denies taking N1bn from member, warns Wike against dragging family into party feud

National Chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Senator Iyorchia Ayu, has denied collecting N1 billion from any member of the party.

Ayu was reacting to allegations made by Rivers State Governor, Nyesom Wike during his media chat on Friday.

Ayu, who was responding after the meeting of the Board of Trustees (BoT), on Friday also asked Wike to stop dragging his family into issues involving the party.

The former senate president said he has been open with the party leadership in the finances of the party since he became the national chairman.

“When the first allegation was made i.e. the N1billion – I decided not to respond because we don’t want to cause altercations in the party. However, I want to make it clear that at no time did I, as the national chairman of PDP collect any N1billion from anybody.

“The consistent attacks on my person since the end of the convention on the 31st of May are deliberate and unfortunate. I have restrained myself from reacting. As the father of the party, I felt I should encourage reconciliation.

“But where it touches on my personal integrity, of which even my own family members are brought into play, it is incumbent upon me to reply. I appeal to such persons to desist from trying to malign my character or bringing my family into party affairs.

“So, I state that I never collected N1billion from anybody.

“Also the N100m that was donated by one of the governors has been judiciously used for the purpose it was given. And in the next few weeks, we will be inviting all party leaders, including members of the press, to come for the commissioning of the PDI.

“When we came in and the party had funding difficulties, the current presidential candidate suggested that the party should take a loan of N1billion from a bank. And the owner of that bank was also an influential member of this party. He has left the party now.

“But when we discussed with him, we discarded the idea. And the party never took any loan or any money from anybody. And I as a person never collected N1billion from anybody.

“Any money advanced to the party was declared before the National Working Committee (NWC) and handed over to the National Treasurer of the party.

“The party’s accounts are straight. They are up to date. And we promise to present the audited account to the public at the end of the year.

“On today’s allegations – “luckily, I had fully briefed the Board of Trustees (BoT) that one of our governors made a contribution of N100million to the revival of the Peoples Democratic Institute which was housed in a portacabin. And we explained to them that we hired an appropriate place in Asokoro; we have renovated and furnished it.

“Two or three days ago, we went there to inspect the place.

“And the NWC decided that even before commissioning, we should invite the governor in question to come and inspect what we have done with his money. I am happy to state that the National Secretary of the party has since written a letter to that governor.

“So, it is not true. Neither I nor the NWC ever took any party money to carry out the renovation. In fact, we have not even exhausted that N100million which was donated by one of the governors,” Ayu said.