The Peoples Democratic Party Young Leaders Alliance (PDP- YLA) has issued an apology and retracted its protest against Nigeria’s Minister of State for Defence, Bello Matawalle, over allegations of misappropriation of funds during his tenure as Zamfara State governor. 

The group had staged a demonstration on Friday at the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) headquarters in Abuja, urging the anti-graft agency to investigate the minister.

In a statement released on Saturday, PDP-YLA spokesperson Muhammed Usman admitted the protest was based on “misleading and politically motivated information.”

 He described the allegations as a “deliberate smear campaign” orchestrated by political opponents to tarnish Matawalle’s reputation and distract him from his national duties.

“I was misled by exaggerated claims aimed at discrediting the minister,” Usman said, urging Nigerians to disregard the narrative.

The PDP-YLA called on Nigerians to focus on Matawalle’s contributions to national security under President Bola Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda. 

“The group also commended Tinubu’s nation-building efforts and urged citizens to support initiatives aimed at repositioning Nigeria for development”.