APC probes alleged diversion, sale of empowerment materials meant for grassroots women

By Jude Opara

The All Progressives Congress (APC) has moved to unmask an alleged impostor said to be exploiting the identity of the National Woman Leader, Dr. Mary Idele Alile, to deceive rural women and perpetrate fraud involving empowerment materials and palliatives meant for party supporters.

The party has been unsettled following the allegations that wrappers, food items and other empowerment materials allocated to women support groups have been diverted, repackaged and allegedly offered for sale in open markets instead of being freely distributed to the intended beneficiaries at the grassroots.

However, as the controversy rages, the APC Women Support Group Directorate in a fresh clarification distanced the National Women Leader, Dr. Allie from the alleged diversion.

In a statement made available to newsmen on Saturday, the APC National Legal Adviser, Barr. Murtala Kankia said Amb. Aisha Abdullahi Hudu has insisted that the person implicated in the earlier statement was not the APC National leader, but an impersonator fraudulently operating under her identity.

Aisha Hudu also identified Dr. Alile as the Director of the PCC Women Mobilisation Directorate for President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s re-election, stressing that the party’s National Woman Leader should not be held responsible for the alleged activities of someone impersonating her.

“The clarification is aimed at preventing further damage to the reputation of the APC women leadership amid growing concerns over the alleged exploitation of party structures and vulnerable grassroots supporters”, the statement added.

Aisha Hudu further explained that allegations concerning the diversion of palliatives, movement of materials to Edo state and the alleged selling of empowerment items should not be attributed to Dr. Alile.

According to her, the National Woman Leader was not the person referenced in the earlier allegations, adding that the situation is an identity-related deception carried out by a yet to be identified person impersonating the party chieftain.

“The APC leadership is already working to establish the identity of the individual behind the alleged impersonation, determine whether party resources or beneficiaries were defrauded and identify anyone who may have facilitated the activities.

“Efforts are ongoing at the party’s National Secretariat in Abuja to investigate the matter and unravel the circumstances surrounding the allegations. The party has also indicated that anyone found culpable could be referred to relevant security agencies for further investigation and possible prosecution”.

The unfolding investigation is expected to establish the facts behind the controversy, identify those responsible and determine whether empowerment materials intended for grassroots women were unlawfully diverted for commercial purposes.