I Never Embezzled N400m Enugu APC Campaign Fund --Okey Ezea

The crisis rocking the All Progressives Congress, APC, in Enugu State
is not over yet as its governorship candidate Barrr. Okey Ezea, has
hit back on some of the party's members accusing them of contributing
to its failure in the last guber election.

Ezea also denied allegations that he embezzled about N400m meant for
the party's campaign in the state.

He made the denial in a report he sent to the National Chairman of the
party, Chief Odigie Oyegun, which was made available to journalists in
Enugu.

According to him, only a total sum of N133m was utilized by his
campaign organisation.

Ezea explained that he received the sum of N38m on January 8, 2015,
for Buhari's rally in Enugu on January 10, 2015.

According to him, N12m was already deducted at source for a live
telecast of the rally on a private television channel.

Ezea added that the N38m was signed from a former governor of Anambra
State, Sen. Chris Ngige.

He added that another N45.250m, also signed from Ngige, was collected
by his campaign committee on January 11, 2015, as campaign support for
the APC gubernatorial, senatorial and House of Representatives
candidates in Enugu State.

The sharing formula was 50 percent for the gubernatorial candidate,
and 50 percent for the National Assembly candidates, Ezea added.

He said the 50 percent allocated to the National Assembly candidates
was subsequently shared "40 per cent to senatorial candidates, and 60
per cent to the House of Representatives candidates".

Ezea added that another N50m was received from Imo State governor,
Rochas Okorocha, through bank transfer.

He disclosed that, out of the N50m, the sum of N500,000 was given to
each of the party's 24 state assembly candidates - a total N12m.

In addition to that, the sum of N8.6m was budgeted for "tours and
gifts" in the 260 wards in the state.

N29.4m was subsequently disbursed as follows - presidential campaign
council, 10 per cent; senatorial candidates, 25 per cent; House of
Representatives candidates, 35 per cent; and gubernatorial candidate,
30 per cent.

Ezea went ahead to allege that some prominent members of the APC in
Enugu State, who he refrained from naming, did not help the party's
cause during the elections.

"A lot of party members contributed to the downfall of the party in
the state because while we were campaigning, some party members were
busy going to Abuja to spread false information that we are not
identifying with Buhari", he insisted.