By Nkechi Eze
The All Progressives Congress (APC) has commenced investigations into allegations of impersonation and diversion of palliatives and empowerment materials meant for women at the grassroots, with its National Legal Adviser, Barrister Murtala Aliyu Kankia, expected to lead the party’s legal efforts to unravel the controversy.
The investigation is aimed at establishing the identity of the individual allegedly impersonating the party’s National Woman Leader, Dr. Mary Idele Alile, determining how the person allegedly gained access to empowerment materials and identifying possible accomplices involved in the alleged diversion.
The controversy emerged following allegations that wrappers, food items and other empowerment materials allocated to women support groups in some parts of the country were diverted, repackaged and allegedly offered for sale in open markets instead of being distributed to their intended beneficiaries.
However, Ambassador Aisha Abdullahi Hudu of the APC Women Support Group Directorate has clarified that Dr. Alile was not the individual implicated in the alleged misconduct, insisting that the person behind the activities was an impostor allegedly operating under the National Woman Leader’s identity.
Hudu also identified Dr. Alile as the Director of the PCC Women Mobilisation Directorate for President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s re-election campaign, stressing that she should not be held responsible for actions allegedly carried out by someone impersonating her.
She maintained that the allegations surrounding the diversion of palliatives, the movement of materials to Edo State and their alleged commercialisation had no connection with the recognised National Woman Leader.
According to her, the clarification became necessary to protect the integrity of the APC women leadership and prevent the alleged impersonation from damaging the reputation of a recognised party official.
The APC is reportedly taking steps at its National Secretariat in Abuja to establish the facts surrounding the incident, while the office of the National Legal Adviser is expected to determine the appropriate legal measures to address the matter.
Beyond identifying the alleged impostor, the investigation is expected to examine whether party resources were unlawfully diverted, whether intended beneficiaries were deprived of the materials and whether other individuals participated in or facilitated the alleged scheme.
The party has also indicated that individuals found culpable could be handed over to relevant security agencies for further investigation and possible prosecution in accordance with the law.
The development has raised questions about the monitoring of party empowerment initiatives and the safeguards required to prevent impersonation, unauthorised distribution and diversion of resources intended for vulnerable women and grassroots support groups.
With Barrister Kankia’s office expected to provide the legal direction, attention is now on the outcome of the investigation and the steps the APC will take to establish accountability, protect its resources and ensure that empowerment materials reach their legitimate beneficiaries.
