…Accuses Ruling Party Of Bribing Assembly, Reps Candidates With N50m, N200m, Cars
By Augustine Akhilomen
A chieftain of the Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC) and prominent opposition voice, Buba Galadima, has launched a blistering attack on the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC), alleging that the party is deploying massive financial inducements to compromise legislative candidates ahead of the 2027 general elections.
Speaking during an interview on Arise Television’s Prime Time programme on Tuesday, Galadima claimed that the ruling party is systematically targeting candidates vying for State House of Assembly and House of Representatives seats to tilt the field well before ballots are cast.
According to Galadima, the alleged strategy involves dangling substantial financial packages—ranging from N50 million to N200 million—alongside vehicle gifts to targeted assembly and federal representatives who agree to align.
Galadima further accused the ruling establishment of creating systemic bottlenecks to stifle political opposition, arguing that exorbitant campaign costs—such as inflated fees for public billboards running into billions of naira in select states—are deliberate design choices meant to squeeze rival candidates out of the public sphere.
“We are only 100 days away from the general elections. Like every politician, except those in power, [we] are watching their backs because, as I speak to you, I don’t think there is any candidate outside the APC who is sure of contesting this election.”
“Every member of the House of Assembly who agrees to forfeit his ticket for the APC candidate is currently being given N50 million, and members of the House of Representatives will be given N200 million with a car.
“There’s a lady from Zamfara State who is sharing the money in a hotel here in Abuja.
“In fact, she just held a meeting about four days ago with the APC National Chairman, Professor Nentawe Yilwatda, showing some candidates who have forfeited their right to contest the election. They wrote resignation letters and collected the money,” he alleged.
Decrying what he views as a drift away from genuine democratic practices, Galadima warned that unless institutional checks are enforced to level the playing field, the integrity of the 2027 electoral cycle remains heavily threatened by unchecked monetization and administrative high-handedness.
The explosive allegations add to the growing tension surrounding the 2027 race, as political heavyweights trade accusations over campaign financing, electoral security, and party machinations.