National chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Iyorchia Ayu, has denied collecting a bribe of N1 billion to influence the primary election of the party. 

The allegation of bribery was part of the series of issues levelled against Mr Ayu by Rivers State governor Nyesom Wike. Mr Wike in September accused Mr Ayu of collecting the money on grounds that the party’s governors were not willing to fund the party. 

“Ayu is corrupt. Quote me. I am a lawyer, and I am the governor of Rivers State. Can Ayu deny that he did not collect N1 billion from Lagos? He told one of the PDP presidential aspirants before the primaries that the governors were not ready to fund the party,” Mr Wike said last month. 

Mr Ayu denied the allegations on Friday while addressing journalists at the end of the Board of Trustees meeting of the party. 

“I, as the national leader of this party, did not collect any one billion naira from anybody. When we came in, and the party had funding difficulties, the current presidential candidate suggested that the party should take a loan of N1 billion from the bank. But the party never took the loan nor any money from anybody. 

“The party never took any loan from anybody. Any money advanced to the party was declared before the NWC and handed over to the National Treasurer. All our accounts are up to date and we promised to publish the accounts at the end of the year,” he said. 

He further commented on the most recent allegations by Mr Wike, which involved another N100 million, funds he said was meant to rehabilitate the party’s institution. 

“On today’s allegations, I fully briefed the BoT that one of our governors made a contribution of 100 million for the revival of the PDI, which was housed in a portacabin, and I explained to them that we hired an appropriate place in Asokoro, we have furnished it, renovated it.

“Three days later, we went there, inspected it, and the NWC decided that before commissioning, we should invite the governor in question to come and inspect what we have done with his contribution. I am happy that the National Secretary of the party has since written a letter to that governor.

“I or the NWC never took any money to carry out that renovation. In fact, we have not even exhausted that N100 million given by one of the governors,” he added. 

Mr Ayu bemoaned reference to his family, urging Mr Wike not to bring his family members into party affairs. 

“The consistent attack on my person since the end of the convention on the 31st of May, I have refrained from reacting as the father of the party, I felt I should encourage reconciliation. But where it touches on my personal integrity or even my family members are brought into play, I appeal to such people to desist from trying to malign my character or bringing my family into party affairs,” he said.