The Anambra Progressives Youth Alliance (APYA) has dismissed allegations that Senator Tony Nwoye diverted or failed to implement a ₦50 million budgetary provision for the distribution of sewing machines to women in the Omambala area of Anambra North Senatorial District, describing the claims as false and politically motivated.
In a statement signed by its President, Comrade Ikechukwu Nwankwo, the group said the allegations were intended to damage the senator’s reputation and mislead the public on how Nigeria’s budget implementation process works.
According to APYA, “We state categorically that these allegations are reckless, misleading, politically motivated, and deliberately designed to tarnish the reputation of a distinguished public servant whose record of service speaks for itself.”
The group argued that critics of the senator were either ignorant of or deliberately ignoring the constitutional roles of the legislature and the executive in the implementation of federal budgets.
It explained that while the National Assembly appropriates funds, implementation remains the responsibility of the executive through the President, the Ministry of Finance, the Budget Office of the Federation and relevant Ministries, Departments and Agencies (MDAs).
Under the constitutional framework, APYA noted, legislators neither receive appropriated funds nor serve as accounting officers for constituency projects.
The statement further said, “To insinuate that Senator Tony Nwoye personally received or withheld Fifty Million Naira is not only false but also demonstrates a fundamental misunderstanding of how government works.”
The youth group maintained that the inclusion of a project in the national budget does not automatically translate into fund release or execution, stressing that every capital project must pass through several stages, including cash backing, procurement, contract award, execution and certification before implementation can be confirmed.
To support its position, APYA challenged those behind the allegations to provide evidence by answering a number of questions.
It asked: “Was the Fifty Million Naira ever released by the Federal Government? Was the project cash backed? Which Ministry, Department, or Agency was designated as the implementing authority? Was any procurement process initiated? What do the official Budget Office implementation reports say about the status of the project?”
The group insisted that until official documents answer those questions, “every accusation against Senator Tony Nwoye remains nothing more than political speculation.”
APYA also pointed to federal budget implementation reports, saying they have consistently shown that many capital projects across the country experience delayed or partial releases, adding that budget approval should not be mistaken for project execution.
The group further argued that even in recent fiscal years, the Federal Government had acknowledged that only a fraction of approved capital allocations were released at different stages of implementation.
Defending the senator’s record, APYA said Nwoye had continued to deliver constituency interventions in education, healthcare, youth empowerment, road infrastructure, scholarships, skills acquisition and humanitarian support across Anambra North.
The association alleged that the accusations were driven by political interests.
It said, “It is therefore unfortunate that political opponents, apparently intimidated by his growing popularity and widespread acceptance, have resorted to fabricating stories aimed at deceiving the public ahead of future political contests.”
The group challenged those behind the publication to present documentary evidence proving that Senator Nwoye personally received, controlled, diverted or misappropriated the alleged funds.
According to the statement, “A budget line is not evidence of fund release, and fund release is not evidence of receipt by a legislator.”
It further stressed that allegations of corruption should be based on verifiable evidence from relevant implementing agencies rather than assumptions or social media campaigns.
Calling on residents of Anambra North to ignore what it described as a smear campaign, APYA expressed confidence that the senator’s public service record would continue to outweigh what it called politically motivated propaganda.
The statement concluded: “No amount of blackmail can erase years of dedicated public service.” It added that the alliance remains firmly behind Senator Tony Nwoye and urged political actors to embrace issue-based campaigns instead of character assassination.