N3.7trn budget padding: Resign now, PDP tells Akpabio

The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has asked Senate President Godswill Akpabio to “immediately” resign from his position to allow an independent investigation into the N3.7 trillion allegedly added to the 2024 budget.

The PDP also urged Akpabio to immediately report to the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) over the pending case of alleged looting of N108 billion belonging to Akwa Ibom State during his tenure as the governor of the state.

The party made the call in a statement issued by its National Publicity Secretary, Debo Ologunagba, on Wednesday, March 13, 2024.

Ologunagba said the Senate President should also speak on the reported N86 billion contract scam in the Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC) during his tenure as the Minister of Niger Delta Affairs.

He noted that the PDP firmly condemned the suspension of the senator representing Bauchi Central Senatorial District, Abdul Ningi, over his allegation of budget padding by the Senate.

The PDP spokesman said Ningi was suspended “without a detailed inquest into the issue of budget padding which he raised”.

Senate suspends Senator Ningi over alleged budget padding

Ologunagba added: “The suspension of Senator Ningi is apparently a desperate move to suppress investigation, conceal and sweep the facts under the carpet.

“Moreover, the frustration of investigation by the APC Senate leadership further confirms PDP’s repeated alert that prominent APC officials in the National Assembly and a top official in the Presidency have been using ministers and other government functionaries to siphon budgeted funds from the national coffers.

“We ask, why did the APC leadership in the Senate not refer the matter to the appropriate Senate Standing Committee for an open investigation in line with the extant Rules of the Senate? What is the APC Senate leadership afraid of and what is it hiding from Nigerians?

“It is even more absurd that instead of recusing himself, the Senate President sat as a judge in the matter; a situation that has the capacity to bring the institution of the Senate to further public disrepute.

“This is especially as the issues at hand heavily border on alleged gross misconduct and criminal betrayal of public trust which are serious offenses under our laws.

“Our Party therefore stands with Senator Ningi for his courage in seeking probity and accountability in the polity.

“What Nigerians expect at this moment is for the Senate President to come clean by stepping aside, allowing for an independent investigation into the budget padding allegation as well as clearing his name at the EFCC over alleged looting of N108 billion and N86 billion under his watch as Governor of Akwa Ibom State and Minister of Niger Delta Affairs, respectively.”

The Star