KEY POINTS

• PDP accuses APC’s Aiyedatiwa of N20 billion vote-buying.
• APC denies the claims, and cites transparent campaign funding.
• Post-election tensions rise amid looming legal battles.

Ondo State governorship election has sparked a heated war of words between Governor Lucky Aiyedatiwa of the All Progressives Congress (APC) and the opposition Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) over allegations of financial impropriety and vote-buying. 

The PDP accused Aiyedatiwa of withdrawing N20 billion from the state treasury to fund his re-election campaign, a claim the APC swiftly dismissed as baseless.

PDP alleges massive vote-buying

Dr. Eddy Olafeso, the Director-General of the PDP Campaign Council, claimed that the alleged diversion of public funds was used to induce voters with cash handouts. 

Speaking with The PUNCH on Wednesday, Olafeso accused Aiyedatiwa of engaging in unprecedented money politics, alleging voters were offered N10,000 each in exchange for their support.

“It’s unheard of that N20 billion of state money could be used to manipulate an election,” Olafeso said. “The people have been pauperized, and this criminality distorts the democratic process. This level of vote-buying represents a grave misuse of public funds, and we are investigating the matter.”

He further criticized the APC for allegedly exploiting poverty among the electorate to secure votes.

“Forty-eight hours before the election, it was clear who the people wanted to vote for until money was deployed. In a country grappling with extreme poverty, N10,000 means the world to many,” Olafeso added.

APC dismisses allegations

The Director of Media and Publicity for Ondo State’s APC wing claimed that the campaign funds adhered to electoral laws.

“All these allegations are false and misleading,” Otaloro said. “Our campaign was funded transparently through a combination of donations, fundraising events, and support from the party’s national headquarters. We didn’t use government funds for our campaign, and our financial records are open to scrutiny.”

He claimed that the PDP’s allegations were fabricated lies and a diversionary tactic following their election loss. 

“The PDP is grasping at straws to explain their defeat. Our victory was due to the credibility of our candidate and the appeal of our party’s manifesto to the people of Ondo State,” Otaloro added.

What’s next?

Political analysts warn that tension looms in Ondo State. The election dust keeps rising as the PDP intensifies its legal preparations claiming APC perpetrated electoral malpractices.

With the APC standing by its financial practices, the dispute over campaign funding is set to dominate post-election discourse.