Reports have emerged that delegates from Adamawa and Ogun received cash gifts from Bola Tinubu, offsetting doubts over earlier expectations that the ruling All Progressives Congress’ presidential primaries would be grossly monetised.
According to the Gazette, at least five delegates from both states told in separate interviews Tuesday that they were offered American banknotes to support Tinubu and Vice President, Yemi Osinbajo. The delegate provided information under anonymity to avoid being accused of anti-party conduct that could carry severe disciplinary measures.
Whereas Tinubu gave Ogun delegates $25,000 each to induce his acceptance as the party’s presidential flag-bearer tonight, Adamawa delegates said they received $10,000 each from Tinubu’s surrogates. The delegates have converged on Abuja for the primary scheduled to be held June 6-8.
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A delegate was quoted to have said:
Asiwaju’s people came here and they said we should support him because he has the best chance to defeat Atiku Abubakar. Then they said they didn’t come empty-handed.”
Delegates from Ogun confirmed getting $25,000 from the former Lagos governor. They, however, said they rejected $5,000 from Vice President Yemi Osinbajo’s surrogates.
Another said:
The vice-president’s people initially said he didn’t have any money to give and advised everyone to vote their conscience.
But suddenly they came back to say he wanted to give us $5,000 to support our transportation and hotel accommodation.
The delegates admitted they rejected the money because it was smaller than what Tinubu had already offered.
The Gazette stated that the delegates shared pictures of the cash gift they said came from the former Lagos governor.
At least one delegate claimed being shortchanged by Tinubu’s surrogates.
I don’t know what happened but they only gave me $9,000. I am working now to get the balance from the person they sent to us.
In the meantime, at least five aspirants are believed to remain in the race amidst intense horsetrading. Rotimi Amaechi, Kayode Fayemi, David Umahi, Tinubu and Osinbajo are said to be on a shortlist of governors.
