The opposition Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has challenged President Muhammadu Buhari to show his zero tolerance for corruption by initiating an open investigation into the ₦2.5 billion scandal involving the First Lady, Aisha Buhari.

In a statement issued by the party through its National Publicity Secretary, Mr. Kola Ologbondiyan, the party also accused the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) of double standards, alleging that the commission takes different decisions on electoral results, irrespective of constitutional provisions.

The PDP said it was scandalous that while President Buhari was in the United Nations General Assembly in New York mouthing his war against corruption, a storm of corruption in which his wife was mentioned was brewing under his own roof.

The statement added that the scandal had further vindicated the stand of the PDP that Buhari presides over a government of corruption, where his close relatives, officials and a cabal of associates are enmeshed in sleazy deals despite parading themselves as saints.

Ologbondiyan said Nigerians should note that the Presidency had suddenly gone dumb on a ₦2.5 billion fraud under its roof, stressing that by now, President Buhari must have learnt that Nigerians were not buying the lame denial by the First Lady, who had rushed to town to disown her detained security aide, Sani Baba Inna after he opened the can of worms.

“The PDP and indeed Nigerians have always pointed to the very expensive lifestyle and personal effects, including posh jewelries, daily paraded by close relatives of Mr. President, thus belying gimmicks and stunts of the first family being saintly and pro-poor.

“Also, there have been allegations of acquisitions of sprawling and choice property in Nigeria and other countries by persons close to the President,” the statement red.

The PDP further said it hoped that the detained aide will not be ‘escorted’ out of the country to prevent him from opening up, as was the case of disgraced former Minister of Finance, Mrs. Kemi Adeosun.