Lagos PDP, Agbaje Go To WAR Over Campaign Funds Released By Atiku

The leadership of Lagos State People’s Democratic Party (PDP) and the party’s candidate, Mr. Jimi Agbaje, are embroiled in a war of words over the management of the campaign funds released by the party’s presidential candidate, Alhaji Atiku Abubakar, to the state chapter.

The PDP leadership is demanding an apology from Agbaje for sidelining them in the disbursement of campaign funds and logistics for the presidential and governorship elections

PDP chieftains said Agbaje’s conduct was responsible for the party’s abysmal performance.
The party spokesman, Mr. Taofik Gani, yesterday alleged that Agbaje sat over the campaign funds and alienated strong members and leaders of the party from the final disbursement for logistics.

This action, he said, consequently reflected in the performance of the state PDP during the elections.

Gani, who visited The Nation office in Lagos yesterday, said: “As the image-maker of the party, I’m still struggling to defend the issues surrounding the disbursement of the election logistics because the action is such that can undermine loyalty, commitment and selflessness to the party.

“I will advise Agbaje to accept that he made a big blunder to have unilaterally disbursed logistics provided by the presidential candidate to the extent that not even the state chairman, Dr. Adegbola Dominic or the party leader, Chief Bode George, knew anything about the manner of disbursement. I am also aware that other leaders like Senator Adeseye Ogunlewe, Mrs. Aduke Maina and Senator Kofoworola Bucknor-Akerele were in the dark.”

But, Agbaje’s spokesperson, Mrs. Modupe Ogunbayo, dismissed the allegations made against her principal.

According to Mrs. Ogunbayo, “Agbaje sourced for funds and disbursed them to all that were involved in the election process. All the people that participated in the election including party agents and councillors were fully mobilised and funded during the elections. As I speak, many of them are still collecting funds. So, what are they still talking about after the election that has come and gone?”

She said: “Agbaje is a noble party man, who will never embark on a road that is inimical to the development of PDP. He is a true democrat, who took part in the party primary and won. He had always abided by the party’s rules and regulations. It will not be fair to denigrate him for selfish reasons. We should move beyond this level.”

She explained that there used to be campaign meetings at Agaje’s office at least once in a week, which was always attended by the party’s spokesman, Mr. Taofik Gani.