Nigerian Legal practitioner Ebun-Olu Adegboruwa has described the distribution of money at Peoples Democratic Party primaries as shameful.
In a statement, the Senior Advocate of Nigeria (SAN) declared that the nationwide elections to determine candidates were excessively monetized and openly rigged.
Adegboruwa bemoaned the disregard for the rules, delegates and voters’ corruption, and godfathers’ imposition of candidates.
He recalled how Adamu Namadi, son of ex-Vice President, publicly confessed to bribing delegates with N2million after failing to get the PDP ticket for Kaduna North federal constituency.
The statement reads: “The embarrassment to us as a nation is the open display of corruption by an opposition party that is seeking to take over power”
“The embarrassing part of this story is that Mr Namadi confirmed that leaders and major stakeholders of the PDP were well aware of this ugly practice and they even endorsed it.]”
Citing another instance, Adegboruwa said in Ondo, Senator Ayo Akinyelure, who lost in the primary election, also demanded the return of cars and hotel money he gave to party leaders.
He further mentioned Tanko Rossi Sabo, a delegate from Sanga LGA of Kaduna, who publicly displayed bundles of Naira notes he received as a delegate to the PDP presidential primary.
The enormous acts of corruption, according to Adegboruwa, are being carried out by a party that is urging Nigerians to commit their future to its hands.
“He shared the loot with members of his community. In the 22 days of his assignment as a delegate, he was able to cough out about N30m from the bribe that he collected from aspirants”
“If these are the leaders to occupy public office in our country, then the hope of a better nation will continue to be a pipe dream, I dare say”
The legal practitioner wondered why the open bribery and corruption by politicians and their followers had not been investigated by security and anti-graft organizations.
Adegnoruwa advised the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to eliminate unwelcome behaviour that could jeopardize election integrity.
The statement also urged the umpire to live up to Nigerians’ expectations by carrying out its statutory duties.
This article was originally published on Naija News