The
Social Democratic Party (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 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.
