The Presidential Campaign Council of the African Democratic Congress (ADC) has accused the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) of using money, food and material gifts to secure public support for President Bola Tinubu ahead of the 2027 general elections.
The opposition party alleged that APC supporters had been distributing cash and other valuables at political gatherings in an attempt to win over Nigerians amid widespread economic difficulties and dissatisfaction with the current administration.
The allegation was contained in a statement issued on Wednesday by the ADC Presidential Campaign Council’s Director of Strategic Communication, Phrank Shaibu, who condemned what he described as the growing use of material inducements at political events.
The council cited reports of luxury vehicles allegedly given to APC women leaders, alongside cash and cooked food reportedly distributed by Tinubu’s son through the City Boy Movement.
It also referred to videos circulating on social media purportedly showing an APC women leader sharing money and pieces of fabric at a political gathering.
The ADC said the alleged incidents suggested that the ruling party was attempting to secure political loyalty through material benefits rather than its performance in government.
It called on the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) and the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to investigate the reported distributions and establish whether they violated existing laws.
The opposition party also questioned why ordinary Nigerians accused of abusing the naira were subjected to prosecution while alleged cash distributions by political actors at campaign events appeared to attract a different response from authorities.
According to the council, the reported distribution of money and gifts was an attempt by the APC to distract Nigerians from rising insecurity, economic hardship and the country’s growing debt burden.
It accused the Tinubu administration of worsening poverty and failing to adequately address concerns over government borrowing.
The ADC maintained that distributing money and other valuables would not erase the economic difficulties confronting households or persuade voters to support the ruling party.
“No amount of money can compel Nigerians to endorse a government that has made life harder for them. The people’s votes are not for sale, and no manufactured crowd can substitute for their verdict at the ballot box,” the statement said.
The council urged the EFCC and INEC to urgently investigate the allegations and make public their findings and proposed actions.
It also appealed to political parties to avoid using cash and gifts to influence voters, warning that such practices could undermine the credibility of the electoral process.
The ADC concluded that Tinubu had failed Nigerians, insisting that financial inducements could not restore public confidence in his administration.
