A chieftain of the Nigeria Democratic Congress, Buba Galadima, has made allegations that the All Progressives Congress is using financial incentives and vehicles to persuade lawmakers to abandon their ambitions and give way to APC candidates ahead of the 2027 general elections. Galadima made these claims during an interview on Arise Television’s Prime Time programme. He stated that the alleged payments were being offered to politicians at both state and federal levels as part of the ruling party's effort to strengthen its position ahead of the elections.
According to Galadima, members of state Houses of Assembly who agree to step aside for APC candidates are allegedly being offered N50 million, while members of the House of Representatives are allegedly being promised N200 million and a car. He further alleged that the arrangement involves the distribution of money to candidates who have agreed to withdraw from the 2027 race. Galadima claimed that some candidates have already surrendered their tickets after receiving the financial incentives.
Galadima also alleged that a woman from Zamfara State is coordinating the distribution of the money from a hotel in Abuja. He claimed that she recently met with the APC National Chairman, Professor Nentawe Yilwatda, and showed him some candidates who have forfeited their right to contest the election. Galadima did not provide evidence during the interview to independently establish the claims about the alleged payments or the identities of the lawmakers he said had withdrawn from the race.
The APC has received politicians from opposition parties as preparations for the elections intensify. In September, former African Democratic Congress candidates from some northern states defected to the ruling party after withdrawing from various State House of Assembly contests. APC National Chairman Yilwatda received the defectors and said they were joining the party to support President Bola Tinubu’s 2027 ambition.
Galadima presented the latest allegations as part of a wider strategy by the ruling party to reduce competition before the general election. He alleged that President Bola Tinubu and APC governors are uncomfortable with facing strong opposition candidates at the polls. The objective, according to Galadima, is to ensure that APC candidates face little or no serious challenge in several constituencies.
Galadima has been outspoken about the 2027 election and the opposition’s efforts to challenge the APC. In September, he disclosed that he was part of a group of seven opposition politicians working under the coordination of former Ekiti State Governor, Kayode Fayemi, with the stated objective of challenging Tinubu in the 2027 presidential election. Fayemi subsequently rejected the claim, and his media team said there was no truth in Galadima’s assertion.
The NDC has since continued to position itself as one of the opposition platforms preparing for the 2027 contest. The party has attracted prominent politicians, including former Anambra State Governor Peter Obi and former Kano State Governor Rabiu Kwankwaso, whose political movements have contributed to the ongoing realignment ahead of the election. The preparations have also seen intense activity within the APC itself, with aspirants challenging outcomes of primaries, withdrawing from contests, and in some cases supporting other candidates.
Key points
- Galadima alleges that APC is offering lawmakers N50m to N200m and vehicles to abandon their 2027 election ambitions.
- The alleged payments are part of the APC's effort to strengthen its position ahead of the 2027 general elections.
- Galadima claims that some candidates have already surrendered their tickets after receiving the financial incentives.
