PDP Chairman Resigns

Photo courtesy- BBC News

Vincent Ogbulafor, chairman of Nigeria's PDP (People's Democratic Party), has resigned due to accusations of corruption. A May 14th BBC News article states Ogbulafor resigned after revelations that Ogbulafor, who served as a government minister during Obasanjo's presidency, accepted $1.5 million from federal funds. Ogbulafor has refuted these claims, but resigned as chairman due to pressure from other party members.

This new development in the corruption of the PDP may both help and hurt the party as well as Nigeria's legitimacy. The PDP has been a relatively popular party since it was founded in 1998. However, the fact that Ogbulafor resigned of partly his own accord as opposed to being forced down may show a sliver of improvement in Nigeria-while corruption is rampant, at least those involved are taking responsibility. In addition, according to BBC's correspondent Caroline Duffield, "Many Nigerians will assume his fall has more to do with internal politics than the fraud charges, which - for Nigeria -represent a fairly small amount of money." Because Ogbulafor worked under Obesanjo, his resignation due to corruption will most probably not affect the current presidency and the elections next year. However, the realization of yet another official who succombed to the evils of fraudulent behavior will leave a dent in how Nigerian citizens view the PDP.

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