As the search for persons involved in the arms procurement fund lingers, the Social Democratic Party (SDP) has absolved its National Chairman, Mr Olu Falae, of any wrong doing.

SDP made the declaration in a statement signed by its National Publicity Secretary, Abdul Isiaq, on Sunday in Kaduna State, northwest Nigeria.

The party said that the 100 million Naira that was received by Mr Falae from Mr Tony Anenih, was meant for the SDP/PDP Electoral Alliance project.

They also explained that the money was shared to all the 36 state chapters of the party in the build-up to the 2015 elections.

The party maintained that “neither the SDP nor Mr Falae was aware that the money came from the office of the former National Security Adviser, Colonel Sambo Dasuki, through Chief Anenih and meant for arms purchase.”

The SDP stressed that “the SDP as well as many Nigerians were aware that the PDP had a fund raising event prior to the election where billions of naira was donated.”

They said that the party was also conscious of the fact that the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) had ruled Nigeria for 16 years and expected that they capable of funding their part of the electoral alliance.

The statement emphasised that neither the SDP nor Chief Olu Falae had anything to do with the $2.1 billion arms deal scandal.

According to the statement, “SDP was approached by the Chairman of the Board of Trustees of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Chief Tony Anenih, for electoral alliance for the re-election of the former President Dr. Goodluck Ebele Jonathan.”

The statement also stated that Mr Falae, being the National Chairman of SDP, summoned the National Executive Committee of the party to a well-attended meeting to consider the PDP’s proposal of Electoral Alliance for the re-election bid of former President Jonathan since SDP did not field a presidential candidate of its own. (Channels TV)

•Photo shows SDP Chairman Olu Falae.

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