- PDP urges President Tinubu to promptly reassess 2024 budget amid ongoing padding allegations within the Senate
- Party insists Senate President Akpabio should step aside during inquiry; criticizes APC-led leadership for attempting to suppress investigation
The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has urged President Bola Tinubu to promptly reassess the 2024 budget in light of the ongoing budget padding allegations within the Senate.
Simultaneously, the party cautioned the Senate leadership against stifling any investigation into the allegations, emphasizing the necessity for Senate President Godswill Akpabio to step aside during the inquiry.
Hon. Debo Ologunagba, the National Publicity Secretary of the PDP, criticized the All Progressives Congress (APC)-led leadership under Akpabio for attempting to suppress demands for a transparent investigation into the alleged improper insertion of N3.7 trillion for non-existent projects in the budget.
According to Ologunagba, the APC’s response to the allegations, as evidenced by its incoherent and dismissive statement issued on Thursday, March 14, 2024, indicates its apprehension that an open investigation could expose the perpetrators and reveal how funds were purportedly distributed among APC lawmakers.
The PDP maintains that Senator Akpabio should recuse himself from the investigation, asserting that he cannot impartially adjudicate. Additionally, the party calls on President Tinubu to restore the integrity of the budget by initiating an open investigation into the alleged insertions and conducting a comprehensive review of the budgetary provisions.
Furthermore, the PDP insists that Senator Akpabio should present himself for investigation by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) regarding allegations of misappropriating N108 billion belonging to the people of Akwa Ibom State and his alleged involvement in an N86 billion contract scam during his tenure as the Governor of Akwa Ibom State and Minister of Niger Delta Affairs.
The PDP asserts that the APC’s efforts to defend against and obstruct investigations into the alleged budget manipulation amid widespread economic hardship are unacceptable. The party vows to persevere despite attempts to suppress demands for transparency and accountability.