Despite the success of the All Progressives Congress (APC) is currently enmeshed in, serious crisis surrounding the N100 million released to the party for its candidates‘ campaign and mobilisation ahead last Saturday’s presidential and National Assembly elections.

The state leadership of the party was accused of
trapping the money and refusing to release same to
the candidates and the various chapters of the party thus prompting the vandalism meted against of the party secretariat on the eve of the elections by aggrieved members.

It was gathered that the development has pitched
the APC candidates against the state leadership, with the former blaming the latter for the party’s poor outing during last Saturday’s elections.

But, state Chairman of the party, Usani Usani, told
journalists at a press conference in Calabar that the
money was actually provided, but that the money
had not reached the secretariat when members came from all parts of the state to agitate that the money should be shared to them.

But, some National Assembly candidates claim the
leadership was not saying what exactly happened.
Some of the candidates said they waited at the party secretariat on the eve of the election until 1.00 a.m. and nothing was heard about the funds to the candidates.

The funds for candidates, it was reliably gathered,
were to enable them perfect on their campaigns and enhance their chances of winning the polls in their various constituencies while that meant for the chapters was to enable the various chapters, wards and polling units mobilise support for the party as well as all necessary bills pertaining the elections.

But that the state leadership only released the
monies meant for the local government chapters
leaving the candidates financially helpless thus
attracting the ire of members. The party secretariat
was vandalised as louvers, doors and other office
equipment were destroyed in the melee.

Following the development, the usually busy
secretariat along Marian by Barracks Road in Okoi
Arikpo Estate was deserted as staff and other
members were panicky that there could be another
outbreak of violence. One of the candidates in the
southern senatorial district who complained about
the development said all entreaties to get money
from the state campaign secretariat failed as nobody responded to his request.

Another candidate in the election who did not want
his name in print said the money was sent through a top member of the party in Akwa Ibom State.

“When we made efforts to inquire, we were again
told that our state chairman had restricted the
release of the funds to anybody. Up till now, as we
speak, no candidate has been paid the money.

“Even the funds meant for the elections proper were released very late to the various chapters and
considering the elongated nature of the state where
most of the local government areas are very far away from Calabar, the state capital, it became difficult to make any meaningful impact having arrived on the very polls day to mobilize for the polls,’’ the source said. However, some party chieftains, including the National Vice Chairman, South-south of the party, Prince Hilliard Eta, who hails from the state have called for investigation into the matter.

A statement from his media aide, Bassey Ita, stated
that: “The matter must be rigorously scrutinised and investigated by the party hierarchy at the national to enable it advance its course in the state.

‘’No form of retrogression, whatsoever, will be
condoned by the party at all levels.’’





www.thisdaylive.com/articles/n100m-campaign-fund-crisis-rocks-c-river-apc/205747/

Is expected..........
Here comes change