‎The All Progressives Congress (APC) has launched an effort to locate an alleged fraudster, who reportedly impersonated the party’s National Woman Leader, Dr Mary Idele Alile, to deceive grassroots women, and divert welfare palliatives and empowerment goods.
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‎The controversy, which has triggered concerns within the party’s women wing, follows allegations that wrappers, food items and other empowerment materials allocated to women support groups were diverted, repackaged and allegedly offered for sale in open markets instead of being distributed to their intended beneficiaries.
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‎However, in a fresh clarification, Ambassador Aisha Abdullahi Hudu of the APC Women Support Group Directorate has distanced Dr Alile from the allegations, insisting that the individual implicated in the earlier statement was not the recognised National Woman Leader but an alleged impersonator operating under her identity.
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‎Aisha Hudu also identified Dr Alile as the Director of the PCC Women Mobilisation Directorate for President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s re-election, stressing that the party’s National Woman Leader should not be held responsible for the alleged activities of someone impersonating her.
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‎The clarification is aimed at preventing further damage to the reputation of the APC women leadership amid growing concerns over the alleged exploitation of party structures and vulnerable grassroots supporters.
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‎Aisha Hudu reportedly explained that allegations concerning the diversion of palliatives, movement of materials to Edo State and the alleged commercialisation of empowerment programmes should not be attributed to Dr. Alile.
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‎She maintained that the National Woman Leader was not the person referenced in the earlier allegations, describing the situation as an identity-related deception allegedly perpetrated by an individual impersonating the party official.
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‎The APC leadership is expected to establish the identity of the individual behind the alleged impersonation, determine whether party resources or beneficiaries were defrauded and identify anyone who may have facilitated the activities.
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‎According to the press statement, efforts were already under way at the party’s National Secretariat in Abuja to investigate the matter and unravel the circumstances surrounding the allegations.
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‎The party has reportedly indicated that anyone found culpable could be referred to relevant security agencies for further investigation and possible prosecution.
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‎Dr. Alile, whose position as APC National Woman Leader is central to the party’s women mobilisation structure, has been expressly separated from the individual implicated in the earlier allegations.
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‎The unfolding investigation is expected to establish the facts behind the controversy, identify those responsible and determine whether empowerment materials intended for grassroots women were unlawfully diverted or commercialised.
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‎For the APC, the priority is not only to expose the alleged impersonator but also to protect the integrity of its women leadership and ensure that party empowerment initiatives reach their legitimate beneficiaries.