One of the Senate President contenders in the 10th National Assembly allegedly paid a bribe of $10,000 to each of the senators-elect on the platform of the All Progressives Congress (APC) to pave the way for him to the country’s number three political post.
The candidate is claimed to have paid the money in exchange for their support on the assumption of office in June 2023.
According to party insiders quoted on the topic, the money was divided by one of the hopefuls from the South-South geopolitical zone.
Kalu, Wase, Others Eye Gbajabiamila’s Seat As APC May Settle For Christian Senate President
The development is alleged to have worried the APC leadership since it could lead to a recurrence of the 2015 incident.
On Saturday, the Campaign for Democracy (CD) urged the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) and the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC) to investigate and arrest the suspected $10,000 briber.
According to a statement published by CD Secretary General Ifeanyi Odili, the EFCC and ICPC have been charged with investigating the alleged bribery.
The statement by the group reads: “We have it through our impeccable source that some ranking Senators have started using their ill-gotten wealth to woo the returning Senators and the new members who have just received their certificates of return from the Independent National Electoral Commission INEC last week with dollars and other hard currencies in other to win their votes when electing principal officers of the NASS.
APC Wins Majority of Seat, To Produce Senate President In 10th Senate
“If we allow these politicians to use the money to induce the newly elected members of the 10th National assembly, the nation will not really get it right again.
“We are afraid that such practice could plunge the nation into another round of quagmire and the leadership of the National Assembly will not be able to join hands with the Executive to fight corruption headlong since they are products of corruption. It takes a corrupt Senator to lobby positions with money.”
CD added that, “We have reliably gathered that aspirants for the position of the Senate Presidency have started reaching out to both returning and newly elected Senators with a huge amount of hard currencies with a view to getting their vote on the assumption of office come June 2023.
“The EFCC and the ICPC should, as a matter of urgency, swing into action and probe the disturbing phenomenon to save our nascent democracy.
“The anti-graft agencies may also ensure that no Senator that is facing corruption charges or has pending cases in court is allowed to take a sensitive position in the 10th Senate.
APC To Meet With Newly Elected Senators And Representatives On Monday
“They must all be thoroughly checked and cleared before they are allowed to contest any of these sensitive positions, most importantly, that of the Senate President.”
The group alleged that the aspirant behind the alleged bribe is working to scuttle the zoning formula of the APC.
“Most worrisome, some of the Senators are still having cases at the courts ranging from money laundering and other corruption cases.
“”This, we are poised to resist, if we must rid Nigeria of corruption which has become very endemic in our body system. We want Senators whose track records at the Senate are unblemished.
“We wonder why the aspirant who is already giving out dollars failed to queue behind the zoning arrangements which will give room for equity, fairness and Justice.
“Drawing from the above, the anti-graft agencies must live up to people’s expectations by moving in and foreclosing any possibility of turning the 10th Senate into a den of corruption.
‘Office of The Senate President Not For Person With Bad Record’ – Onoh Blasts Orji-Kalu
“It is critical to note that the Senate presidency and other sensitive positions are not for sale if we want the nation to come out of its economic doldrum: stagnation or depression,” the group stated.
However, the APC spokesperson, Felix Morka, has denied knowing of any such inducement within the party for the aim of obtaining the Senate President seat.
He also stated that the party has yet to zone the Senate Presidency position and that the decision will be made public at the appropriate time.
“I am not aware of the money and so I can’t speak.
“As for the zoning, the party is yet to decide on it. There’s still time. When the party meets and decides, surely it will be communicated,” Morka told The Whistler on Saturday.
Follow us on Facebook
Post Disclaimer
The opinions, beliefs and viewpoints expressed by the author and forum participants on this website do not necessarily reflect the opinions, beliefs and viewpoints of Anaedo Online or official policies of the Anaedo Online.