2027: APC Allegedly Offers N200m, Cars to House of Reps Candidates to Withdraw — Galadima
A chieftain of the Nigerian Democratic Congress (NDC), Buba Galadima, has alleged that politicians seeking elective offices are being offered millions of naira and vehicles to withdraw from the 2027 elections and allow All Progressives Congress (APC) candidates to contest unopposed.
Galadima alleged that state House of Assembly members who agree to withdraw from the race in favour of APC candidates are being offered N50 million each, while members of the House of Representatives are allegedly being offered N200 million and cars.
He also claimed that senatorial aspirants are being offered N500 million and a Jeep, while governorship aspirants who agree to withdraw are allegedly being offered N2 billion and a Jeep.
Galadima made the allegations on Tuesday evening while appearing on Arise Television, monitored by SaharaReporters.
According to him, the alleged payments are being coordinated from a hotel in Asokoro, Abuja, by a woman from Zamfara State, with security personnel, including operatives of the Department of State Services (DSS), allegedly providing protection.
“As we speak now, if you go to Carlton Hotel in Asokoro, there is a lady from Zamfara who is sharing money,” Galadima alleged.
He claimed the alleged financial inducement was part of a broader strategy by President Bola Tinubu and APC governors to weaken opposition parties ahead of the 2027 general elections.
“President Tinubu and all his governors are afraid of contest; they want to win unopposed,” he said.
Galadima alleged that politicians who surrender their tickets to APC candidates were already receiving payments.
“Every member of the House of Assembly who agrees to forfeit his ticket and withdraw for APC candidate is being given N50 million,” he said.
“There are a lot of security people, DSS people, and everybody in the hotel as you go now.”
He further claimed that the woman allegedly involved in the distribution of the money recently met with APC National Chairman, Professor Nentawe Yilwatda.
“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 also claimed that members of the House of Representatives who agree to step aside would receive N200 million alongside vehicles.
“Every House of Representatives member who agrees to let go his candidature will be given N200 million with their car,” he said.
“Several have collected, and they are still collecting from state to state.”
When pressed by the Arise Television presenter on whether he was alleging that politicians from opposition parties were being induced to withdraw so that APC candidates could emerge without opposition, Galadima answered in the affirmative.
He, however, acknowledged that the claims were allegations and said he did not personally have evidence to establish them.
The presenter also cautioned that the allegations could not be presented as established facts without evidence.
Galadima subsequently urged journalists to investigate the claims.
“I am saying this because I want you as an investigative journalist to try to investigate the veracity of my claims. I may be wrong. I may be wrong, but this is the information we have,” he said.
He claimed that some people from the NDC had attended meetings where the alleged arrangements were discussed and had reported back to the party.
Galadima alleged that the financial inducements extended beyond the State Houses of Assembly and House of Representatives.
“If you are contesting for Senate, you have N500 million plus a Jeep. If you are contesting for governor and you want to withdraw, it’s N2 billion naira plus a Jeep,” he alleged.
The NDC chieftain also accused the ruling party and its government of creating obstacles for opposition politicians seeking to campaign across the country.
He claimed that opposition politicians were being prevented from campaigning in some parts of the country and alleged that some opposition gatherings had been met with hostility.
His comments come amid increasing political realignments and defections ahead of the 2027 elections.
The APC has continued to attract politicians from opposition parties, while several aspirants across parties have also withdrawn from contests, endorsed other candidates or switched political platforms.
However, Galadima’s claim that such withdrawals are being secured through payments of up to billions of naira is an allegation that requires independent verification.
The APC, Yilwatda, the Presidency and the DSS had not, as of the time of filing this report, publicly responded to the specific allegations made by Galadima.
Galadima’s allegations also raise questions about the transparency of the candidate-selection process ahead of the 2027 elections and whether political aspirants are being pressured or financially induced to abandon their bids.
He said the alleged activities, if allowed to continue, could undermine competition between political parties.
“Why should we call it democracy? We can just as well call it fascism or dictatorship or monarchy,” Galadima said, while arguing that political parties should be allowed to campaign freely across the country.
He added that political actors could not claim to support democracy while restricting opposition activities.
The allegations are particularly significant because the 2027 general elections are still months away, with parties already engaged in candidate selection, defections, alliances and other forms of political realignment.
