2027: APC Offering N50m-N2bn To Opposition Candidates To Step Down — Galadima

A chieftain of the Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC), Buba Galadima, has alleged that the All Progressives Congress (APC) is offering millions and billions of naira to opposition politicians to withdraw from the 2027 general elections and pave the way for APC candidates to contest unopposed.

Galadima alleged that members of state Houses of Assembly who agree to forfeit their tickets and withdraw from the election are being offered N50 million, while members of the House of Representatives are allegedly being offered N200 million and a vehicle.

He further claimed that senatorial candidates who agree to step down are being offered N500 million and a Jeep, while governorship candidates are allegedly being offered N2 billion and a Jeep.

Galadima made the allegations during an appearance on ARISE News Prime Time on Tuesday.

According to him, the alleged inducement was part of a broader strategy by the ruling party to weaken opposition parties and contest unopposed ahead of the 2027 elections.

He said, “President Tinubu and all his governors are afraid of contest, and they want to win unopposed.”

Galadima alleged that a woman from Zamfara State was currently distributing money to politicians at the Carlton Hotel in Asokoro, Abuja, with security personnel, including operatives of the Department of State Services (DSS), allegedly providing security at the venue.

“As we speak now, if you go to Carlton Hotel in Asokoro, there is a lady from Zamfara who is sharing money,” he said.

“There are a lot security people, DSS people, and everybody in the hotel as you go now.”

He further alleged that the woman recently held a meeting with the APC chairman, Professor Nentawe Yilwatda, where candidates who had allegedly agreed to withdraw from the election were presented.

“In fact, she just held a meeting about three or four days ago with Professor Nentawe, the chairman of APC, showing some candidates who have forfeited their right to contest the election. They wrote resignation and they collected money,” Galadima alleged.

He claimed that the alleged payments varied according to the political office being contested.

“I can say what happens, every member of the House of Assembly who agrees to forfeit his ticket and withdraw for APC candidate is being given 50 million naira,” he said.

“Every House of Rep member who agrees to let go his candidature will be given 200 million naira with their car. And several have collected, and they are still collecting from state to state.”

Asked whether he was alleging that opposition candidates were being persuaded to step aside to allow APC candidates to emerge unopposed, Galadima responded in the affirmative.

“Yes,” he said.

However, when pressed on the evidence supporting his allegations, Galadima acknowledged that he did not have documentary evidence to independently substantiate the claims.

Galadima said he was willing to have the claims investigated, adding that he could be wrong but was relying on information available to him.

“I may be wrong. I may be wrong, but this is the information we have,” he said.

The NDC chieftain also claimed that opposition politicians, particularly members of the NDC and African Democratic Congress (ADC), were being targeted.

Asked whether he knew individuals from the NDC who had been approached to withdraw from the race, Galadima said some party members had attended meetings where such proposals were allegedly discussed.

“I know people who attended the meeting,” he said, adding that those involved had reported back to the party and had clips from the meetings.

Galadima’s allegations come amid preparations by political parties for the 2027 general elections and growing realignment among opposition politicians.

He also accused the APC-led government of creating obstacles for opposition parties seeking to campaign across the country.

“This APC and its government does not want any opposition person to campaign in any part of the country,” he alleged.

He criticised restrictions allegedly imposed by some state governments on opposition campaign activities, arguing that such actions were inconsistent with democratic principles.

“They can’t claim to be democrats and not imbibe the tenets of democracy,” Galadima said.

He further questioned whether preventing opposition politicians from freely campaigning could be described as democracy.

“Why should we call it democracy? We can just as well call it fascism or dictatorship or monarchy,” he said.