Agbarho Progressives Leaders Petition APC Nat’l Secretariat Over Stella Okotete’s Alleged Misuse of Election Funds
….Says she’s major problem APC is facing in her hometown
The Agbarho Progressives Leadership of the All Progressives Congress, APC, demands an explanation from Stella Oketete concerning the alleged mismanagement of election funds and urges the National APC secretariat to immediately launch an investigation to safeguard the party’s image in the lead-up to the 2027 elections in Delta State.
The group, in a letter addressed to the National Secretariat of APC and made available to Journalists cautioned that they were the pioneering leaders and members of the party from Agbarho, the hometown of Stella Okotete, and would not remain passive while the party they laboured for deteriorates.
The group recalls the 2015 general elections, where Stella Okotete was among the forefront champions advocating for the defeat of APC, frustrating the party’s efforts to secure votes, only to be defeated due to the collective efforts of the Agbarho people. Interestingly, individuals like Stella and her collaborators, who opposed the party, are now benefitting from it.
Stella Oketete is apparently the chief beneficiary of the party, while individuals like us have not derived any significant benefits, but we continue to promote and support the party within our community and ward structures.
Since Stella Okotete was unsuccessful in her ministerial pursuit, she has been attempting to diminish and dissuade party leaders from participating in party affairs.
“How can a 40-year-old woman be so presumptuous as to insult party leaders who are older and more experienced than her? As the foundation leaders of the party in the 2015 general election, we were entrusted with election funds for the two wards in the Agbarho community, and we called meetings with all party leaders to discuss and disburse the funds to various units.”
There is concern regarding Stella Okotete, who claims leadership of the party in the community, as she allegedly did not consult with party leaders about the election funds entrusted to her. Instead, she spent the funds unilaterally and misled party members, stating that she used her own money, as the party purportedly did not provide funds for the elections.
But when some of us became aware, we found that the amount she distributed to party members was considerably lower than the amount the party had provided to her
In light of these facts, we formally demand that she refund fifteen thousand dollars and thirty million naira that she unfairly denied to party members in the community.
The Agbarho leadership has apprised the National Party Chairman of APC that the community has traditionally been won by the opposition party since the initial election in 1999.
It is therefore incorrect for Stella to claim that she delivered APC in the community when they were in the receipt of her affiliation with PDP during and after the elections. Hence, her birthday celebration was predominantly attended by PDP faithfuls, including the PDP governor of Delta state.
In a setting where a community has both a state party Chairman and a federal commissioner, can an ordinary executive director of a bank credibly claim leadership within the party? In terms of hierarchical structure, does a bank director assume seniority over a state Chairman of the party and a serving federal commissioner?
“As party leaders in APC Agbarho, provide a comprehensive account of the election funds collected on behalf of Agbarho APC members.”
“We are no longer prepared to tolerate this situation. As Agbarho APC representatives of dedicated party members, we urge you to employ your good office to call Stella Okotete to order, requesting that she desist from presenting herself as the party leader.”
Thanks
Yourself faithfully
Chief Mathias Efe Olowu,
Chairman Agbarho Progressives Leadership of APC
Hon Elvis Otu,
Secretary
