The Tanimu Turaki-led faction of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has called for an independent, forensic investigation into the ongoing scandal involving allegations of bribery and administrative fraud within the Presidency.
In a statement released on Sunday, the faction warned that the controversy surrounding the appointment of a Director-General for a reportedly fictitious presidential council highlights severe lapses in governance and accountability. The group argued that the matter requires an impartial inquiry to restore public trust, rather than internal reviews or defensive rebuttals from government officials.
The controversy centers on claims made by Prince Adeniyi Matthew, who alleged that the Chief of Staff to the President, Femi Gbajabiamila, solicited and received financial inducements to facilitate his appointment. The Presidency has publicly denied these claims, asserting that the Chief of Staff lacks the authority to make such appointments and labeling Matthew an impostor who allegedly forged credentials to infiltrate government processes.
The PDP faction, however, contended that the Presidency’s explanation raises even more concerning questions regarding national security and institutional integrity. The statement challenged the administration to explain how an individual could allegedly secure office space, staff, and budgetary allocations within the Federal Secretariat without official authorization.
“If the Presidency’s account is correct, that this individual is an impostor, then it means the Federal Government is so porous and vulnerable,” the faction argued. They warned that if the government’s gatekeepers failed to detect such a breach, it points to either gross incompetence or a systemic failure within the country’s highest administrative offices.
The opposition group has formally urged President Bola Tinubu to demonstrate leadership by suspending implicated officials and commissioning a forensic audit by an international firm. They further demanded a comprehensive reorganization of the Presidential Villa to address what they described as a troubling pattern of institutional failures.
The statement concluded by emphasizing that the government owes Nigerians a transparent account of the situation, warning that failure to address the allegations through credible oversight would only further widen the nation’s political trust deficit.
