APC faults PDP on alleged N90b FIRS campaign funds for 2019 polls

The All Progressives Congress (APC) has faulted claims that it got N90b or N40b from the Federal Inland Revenue Service (FIRS) to buy votes during the 2019 general elections.

In a statement by its National Publicity Secretary, Lanre Issa Onilu, the party described the allegation corroborated by the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) as “a bunch of lies and hogwash.”

It argued that dipping hands into public coffers as a matter of official policy ended during PDP’s reign.

APC described those who made the allegation against it as unintelligent for resorting to a crude attempt at smearing its efforts to woo the electorate during the electioneering campaigns.

“Only the sponsors of the report believe their tales. We urge the sponsors of the allegation to resolve their confusion. Last time it was N90b and now it is N40b.

“We also challenge them to provide evidence from not only the FIRS, but any other government agency where the APC took any money for the campaigns.

“We recall that PDP leaders had contemplated changing the name of their party at a time because they were ashamed of their own record of sleaze.

“We, however, refer the PDP and co-peddlers of falsehood to the Federation Accounts Allocation Committee (FAAC) for the cost of collection accruing to FIRS and FIRS statement on the subject matter,” the statement reads.

Meanwhile, National Secretary of the Conference of Nigeria Political Parties (CNPP), Willy Ezugwu has canvassed death penalty for corrupt public officials and their collaborators.

Speaking during the inauguration of the Solomon Adodo-led executive committee of the National Youths Council (NYC) in Abuja, he wondered why those entrusted with the governance of the country dissipate so much energy on hate speech bill instead of tackling corruption that has brought the country on its knees.

He said it behooves the Adodo-led youths council to mobilise Nigerian youths to tackle the menace and ensure good governance in the country.

This, he said, could be actualised if they exploit their numerical strength to take over the mantle of leadership of the country through a democratic process.

“We hear of corruption in Nigeria. We agree corruption is like HIV and it is in every Nigerian. And that is why people like myself heard of the inauguration of a new youth’s leadership and decided to come.

“That is why I am telling them today that it is their own time and that we have eaten our time. Therefore, the youths should know if they still want the elderly ones to take over their own time, it is left for them,” he said.