The Ondo State chapter of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has accused Governor Lucky Aiyedatiwa of withdrawing ₦20 billion from state funds to finance vote-buying during last Saturday’s governorship election. The ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) has firmly denied the allegation, calling it baseless and unfounded.
Dr. Eddy Olafeso, Director General of the PDP Campaign Council, alleged during an interview on Wednesday that the funds were used to induce voters with ₦10,000 each. “It was money politics, a new and alarming dimension to vote-buying,” Olafeso said. He claimed the alleged vote-buying undermined the electoral process and perpetuated poverty as a tool for election manipulation.
Olafeso lamented the impact of financial inducement on the electorate, stating, “Forty-eight hours before the election, it was clear who the people wanted to vote for until the money influence changed everything. In this extreme poverty, ₦10,000 is a lifeline for many.”
In response, Steve Otaloro, Director of Media and Publicity for the Ondo APC, dismissed the allegations as false. He affirmed the party’s commitment to transparency in campaign financing.
“Our campaign funding was transparent and compliant with electoral regulations. We did not use government funds for our campaign,” Otaloro stated. He explained that the APC relied on donations from members, supporters, fundraising events, and contributions from the party’s national headquarters.
Otaloro also emphasized the party’s readiness to cooperate with any investigation into its financial records. “We’re confident our financial records will withstand scrutiny,” he said.
The allegations come amid heightened scrutiny of campaign financing and growing concerns over the role of vote-buying in Nigerian elections. The PDP has vowed to investigate what it described as “criminality” in the election, while the APC maintains its victory was legitimate and transparent.
The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has already presented certificates of return to Governor Aiyedatiwa and his deputy, signifying their official victory in the governorship election.