All Progressives Congress (APC) National Chairman Adams Oshiomhole and Senate President Bukola Saraki are locked in a big row over bribery allegations arising from the APC primaries.

Saraki, a former member of the APC, has defected to the opposition Peoples Democratic Party (PDP). He said: “Nigerians are waiting to see how the President will handle the serious allegations against his party chairman. We expect the President with his anti-corruption campaign to institute thorough and transparent investigation into the allegations against his party chairman.

”The failure of the President to get to the root of the matter will finally destroy his ability and that of the party to continue to talk of any anti-graft battle. The President should let the investigation be thorough, open and transparent. This is no time for any cover-up,” Saraki said in a statement by Yusuph Olaniyonu.

A Presidency source said yesterday that no compliant had been received against Oshiomhole.

The party chairman, who has been battling some governors seeking tickets for their favourites, challenged the Senate president to give proof of his corruption allegations or face a law suit.

A statement by Oshiomhole’s Media Adviser Simon Egbebulem said: “Whereas, the basis on which he made those comments was tenuous and unjustifiable, it is on record that Saraki has been in the eye of investigations by the EFCC and the ICPC for sundry cases of corruption. That is the same man that has taken it upon himself to question Comrade Oshiomhole’s credibility.

“We challenge him to mention one person who has claimed that he gave money to Oshiomhole to influence him and the decision of the party’s National Working Committee (NWC) in the just-concluded primary elections.

“We insist that Saraki with his kind of prebendal politics is nothing but a monumental disgrace to the nation’s democracy.”

Saraki kicked off the outbursts when he told reporters in Ilorin after the prayers to mark the sixth anniversary of his father’s death that Oshiomhole should quit politics because he lacked the moral right to continue to lead the APC following the allegations levelled against him.

He said: “Oshiomole is somebody, who we are told been collecting not even naira but dollars from candidates and he is being accused by his party’s aspirants and governors. I don’t think he has any moral ground, even to continue to be in politics not to talk about being a chairman of a party.

”I remember in those days, even Oyegun, they never accused him of something like this. I have left that party. I’m sure the President, based on integrity, knows the right thing to do. So, on moral ground, he cannot speak on moral ground.”

Saying Saraki should name any member of the APC who offered him bribe either in foreign or local currency to influence him and members of the National Working Committee to take a decision in his favour before, during and after the party primaries or face legal action, Oshiomhole described as pathetic and irresponsible the resort to what he called petty politics by the Senate President who he described as a usurper of and pretender to the position he occupies.

He said Saraki, who has been in the eyes of investigation by the EFCC AND ICPC, has no moral ground to call for his resignation.

•Excerpted from The Nation report

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