THE Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has called for an independent forensic investigation into allegations against President Bola Tinubu’s Chief of Staff, Rt. Hon. Femi Gbajabiamila, describing the controversy as further proof of what it termed the “recklessness and impunity” of the APC-led Federal Government.
In a strongly worded statement issued on Sunday, the main opposition party seized on accusations made by Prince Adeniyi Matthew of the Presidential Economic Advisory Council, who claimed that Gbajabiamila solicited and received financial inducements to facilitate his appointment and made further demands while he held the office.
The PDP’s National Publicity Secretary, Comrade Ini Ememobong Essien, said the allegations – alongside the Presidency’s rebuttal through Bayo Onanuga – had confirmed Nigerians’ long-held fears that merit had been replaced by nepotism at the highest levels of government.
‘Impostor’ or Corruption?
Rather than issue a straightforward denial, the Presidency, through Onanuga, dismissed Prince Matthew as an “impostor and fraudster” who allegedly secured office space, staff, budgetary allocations, and Central Bank-registered accounts without authorisation.
But the PDP argued that both versions of the story pointed to a damning failure of governance.
“If the Presidency’s account is correct, then the government is so porous that an impostor operated freely at the highest level. If Prince Matthew’s account is true, then it is another act of shameless corruption,” the statement read.
The opposition party listed a litany of previous incidents it said exposed institutional collapse under the current administration, including the appointment of deceased persons into government positions, questionable names on the presidential pardon list, and the alleged N800 billion Progressive Governors Forum scandal.
Call for International Investigation
The PDP said any responsible government faced with such allegations would immediately order a forensic investigation, suspend implicated officials, and implement reforms to prevent a recurrence. Instead, it accused the APC administration of pursuing a “covert internal review” while hoping public attention would fade.
“Assuming Nigerians accept the Presidency’s explanation, the implications are staggering. How did an impostor get office space at the Federal Secretariat, staff, budgetary provisions, and access to institutions like the EFCC and CBN?” the party queried.
The PDP therefore called on President Tinubu to order a forensic investigation by a reputable international firm, suspend all key officials connected to the matter, and reorganise the Presidency. It also demanded an unreserved public apology to Nigerians.
‘Abandoned Governance for Politics’
The party concluded by stating that the administration had abandoned governance for political calculations, adding that the scandal had further deepened public distrust.
“The Presidency owes Nigerians more than explanations; it owes us accountability. Nigerians deserve a government that is competent, transparent, and worthy of their confidence in 2027,” Essien declared.
Neither the Presidency nor the Chief of Staff’s office had issued further comment on the PDP’s demands at the time of filing this report.
