PDP’s link with Ballard is suspicious, says group

Save Nigeria Network, a political group, says it is suspicious of the link between Brian Ballard, a US lobbyist, and the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP).

TheCable had reported that the PDP hired the firm ahead of the 2019 elections.

Ballard, who has US President Donald Trump as one of his clients, will receive $90,000 a month from Nigeria’s main opposition party.

In a statement on Sunday, Abraham Abayomi, convener of the organsiation, said PDP hired the American to “sow confusion among Nigerians.”

Abayomi alleged that part of Ballard’s assignment is manipulate documents to enable the presidential candidate visit the US.

It is said that Abubakar is unable to visit the US because of corruption allegations.

“We are saddened that the PDP and Atiku’s loyalist are hailing the 90 thousand dollars or N31.5 million per month deal as the next best thing after the creation of mankind when they should reasonably be crying for being out of touch with reality,” he said.

“Only wickedness marinated in ignorance should make anyone see such betrayal of one’s nation as worthy of celebration. The act is wrong on many level.

“First, for a candidate that is selling the lies of being an apostle of restructuring, engaging Brian Ballard for that amount is the hallmark of being irresponsible. Part of the restructuring Nigeria needs is the urgent trimming down of election cost so that decent people that do not have access to stolen public funds can contest and possibly win elections to contribute their quota to national development.

“But Atiku remains obsessed with doling out to dollars to Americans. Part of Ballard’s assignment, as we have been made to understand, is to lobby Americans to spare Atiku the prospect of serving jail term when he visits.”