Former Ekiti State Governor, Ayodele Fayose, has alleged that the Accord Party spent no less than ₦40 billion during the Osun State governorship election.Campaigns & Elections
Fayose made the claim in an interview with TVC journalist, Nifemi Oguntoye, while reacting to the election outcome and allegations of vote-buying by political parties.
His claim came in response to comments by singer David Adeleke, popularly known as Davido, who had accused the APC of spending ₦110 billion on vote-buying during the election.
Davido had also argued that the Accord Party did not rely on financial inducement to secure victory, saying the party was carried by the support of Osun voters.Government
Fayose, however, disagreed with the claim, insisting that both major contenders spent heavily during the election.
“Accord Party led the opponents. The money that went to that election from the Accord Party itself cannot be under ₦40 billion. I stand to be corrected,” he said.
The former governor also alleged that billions of naira were distributed across various local government areas and wards shortly before election day.
“On Monday, they sent over ₦7.5 billion to the various local governments. Various wards. The minimum for the wards that got the minimum would be about ₦35 million,” Fayose alleged.Maps
He said some of the affected wards had between seven and nine polling units, adding that the spending by the leading parties exceeded the legally permitted threshold.
“The fact remains that both parties spent stupendously. They spent beyond the threshold like every other political party,” Fayose said.
Fayose also questioned alleged financial transactions shortly before the election, linking them to the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission’s (EFCC) decision to freeze the state government’s accounts.Campaigns & Elections
He questioned why funds were released close to the election rather than being made available to residents months earlier.
“The ₦20 million that went out like a week before the election that prompted the EFCC to freeze their account shows that something is not right,” he said.
“Why didn’t you send those to the people six months ago?” he asked.
He argued that the geographical spread of the votes was more significant than the overall margin, particularly in Ede, where the Adeleke family has strong political roots.
“The Adelekes are rooted in their hometown. Omisore or APC has no presence. So courting an Omisore or giving an Omisore the nomination, what would it change? Nothing,” Fayose said.
He pointed to Adeleke’s strong showing in Ede, noting that the governor’s margin in the area contributed significantly to his overall victory.
Read Also:Fayose’s bedroom electrification
Osun 2026: Police urge residents to celebrate election victory responsibly
Fayose therefore rejected the argument that the APC’s defeat was solely the result of its decision to field Oyebamiji as its candidate.Government
According to him, the Adeleke family’s political influence in Ede remained a significant advantage during the election.
The former governor advised the APC to approach the court if it believed the election result was compromised.
“I think they should go to court,” Fayose said when asked whether the APC should challenge the outcome.
NPO Reports
