2015 Polls: Corruption Scandal Rocks Jonathan Campaign Committee

President Goodluck Jonathan speaking at the flag-off of his 2015 campaign in Lagos... on January 8, 2015. Photo Credit: State House

The unit of the President Goodluck Jonathan campaign organization responsible for mobilizing the civil society has been hit by a corruption scandal that has now paralyzed its operations. Several members of the committee who spoke expressed frustration with Eze’s management of the committee, according to PREMIUM TIMES.

Members of the committee are divided over the leadership style of its chairman, Nick Eze, a professor. They accuse Eze of cornering the kick-off funds he received from the presidency and of sabotaging the entire campaign. The committee crisis peaked early February when infuriated members refuted claims by Eze that he had spent N100 million in organizing campaign events.

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“As far as the presidential campaign organization is concerned, the Civil Society committee is a fraud,” an aggrieved member disclosed. “Professor Nick has abandoned his office and is now running the committee from his bedroom. On one occasion, he called a meeting and we asked for accounts, he insulted us and said that he is a personal friend of the president and only reports to him directly,” another committee member said. “We are just committee members on paper.”

The committee is currently dormant as members appear disillusioned and too disgruntled to mobilize voters for the president.

A member of the committee, who said he stopped work since early February, claimed that highhandedness is widespread amongst other committees. He explained that the selfish interest of the committee chairman is the reason the president is going round by himself meeting with every group.

“Ordinarily, we should have done that for the president,” he said.

Mr. Eze dismissed the accusations. He said they were “unfounded” and coming from “jobless people.”

Eze blamed the opposition for sponsoring the “jobless people” making the accusations. He denied the meeting was over the scandal. He argued that only the chairman can summon meeting and that the absence of minutes from the Thursday meeting invalidates its existence.

“Committee members did not give me money,” he said in defence of accusations he is not accountable.

A no-confidence vote was stalled but committee members remain angered and are spoiling for fresh showdown with Eze.

The spokesperson for the Campaign, Femi Fani-Kayode, did not answer or return calls seeking his comments for this story.