Asare Asare, Calabar
Newly inaugurated chairman of PDP in Cross River State, Venatius Ikem has disclosed that he once got a One Million Naira windfall from an appreciative election loser.
He said the outcome of the party primaries was not favourable to the man who had put in substantial resources to become the party’s candidate but he lost.
At a recent PDP event in Calabar, Vena explained that the PDP national headquarters had once asked him to head an electoral team to a certain state to conduct party primaries.
“I followed all the laid down party and electoral rules strictly.
“Eventually, the man who put in all resources and whom popular opinion had given it to him even before actual election lost. But at the end it could be seen that it was fair and credible.
“I was on my way back to my hotel room when a car pulled up near me. A man came out. It was the same man that lost the primaries.
“I thought he came to molest me. But he smiled, and said to me: ‘I lost the election. The process and actual conduct of the primary election was open, transparent and credible.’ He then open his bag and gave me cash of N1m, thanking me. I never knew him before then.
“I will never forget that incident or such money.”
Vena said his tenure as PDP chairman will be transparent in administration and in conduct of any elections.
He then called on INEC in the state to live above board when it comes to electoral processes, encouraging them to be transparent.