The Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC) has denied diverting funds to support the All Progressives Congress (APC) gubernatorial candidate in Edo.
NDDC Director of Corporate Affairs, Mrs Seledi Thompson-Wakama told newsmen in Port Harcourt on Monday that the claims are fabrications by mischief makers.
“NDDC is aware of online reports claiming it is diverting contractors’ funds to finance APC’s campaign in Edo.
“We are constrained to respond to this false story on imaginary diversion of NDDC funds originating from an undisclosed source,” she clarified.
Thompson-Wakama explained that NDDC does not finance political parties or candidates at any government level, focusing instead on accelerating development in the Niger Delta.
“The NDDC board and management is now more than ever determined to positively impact the lives of Niger Delta people.
“We urge the public to disregard the false reports being spread by mischief makers to undermine the commission’s various innovations,” she said.
The NDDC spokesperson noted that NDDC was now accountable and operates with greater transparency, having recently engaged KPMG to enhance its governance and internal processes.
According to her, this partnership aims to foster a culture of ethics and good corporate governance within the commission.
“We are committed to working with stakeholders to drive President Bola Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda and fulfil our mandate in the Niger Delta.
“NDDC is also working with regional state governments and development partners to create a stable, prosperous, ecological regenerative and peaceful region,” Thompson-Wakama stated.
The NDDC had come under scrutiny for allegedly diverting funds meant for contractors to finance the gubernatorial campaign of Senator Monday Okpebholo, the APC candidate for Edo State.
Reports indicate that the NDDC, which has been criticized for its long-standing debts to contractors, is now using funds designated for settling these debts or funding ongoing projects to support Okpebholo’s campaign.
Sources in the commission revealed that the NDDC has been owing various contractors for extended periods, with some waiting for payments for years.
”Instead of addressing these outstanding payments, the NDDC is reallocating these funds to bolster the political campaign of Okpebholo, who is vying for the governorship position in Edo State under the APC banner,” a source told journalists in Port Harcourt where the headquarters of the commission is located.
The move has raised concerns about the misuse of public funds and the ethical implications of diverting resources meant for development projects to support political campaigns.
Critics argue that the practice undermines the integrity of the NDDC and exacerbates the financial strain on contractors who have already experienced significant payment delays.
Civil society groups are now calling on the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) to scrutinize the NDDC’s finances.
”The EFCC should look into this. The NDDC should not have any political affiliations. It is detrimental to the work that they do as they work across all Niger Delta states which have various political persuasions,” an activist, Soboma Peters said.